Performances on April 30th, May 1st & 2nd, 2025, at 7pm in the Black Box Theater
CONTENT WARNING:
* The production includes mature language and themes.
* The production includes mature language and themes.
|
Based on the novel by
MARK HADDONS |
Adapted by
SIMON STEPHENS |
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME was first presented by the National Theatre in London at the Cottesloe Theatre on August, 2, 2012, and transferred to the Gielgud Theatre, West End, on March 12, 2013. It was directed by Marianne Elliot; the set design was by Bunny Christie; the lighting design was by Paul Constable; the video design was by Finn Ross; the music was by Adrian Sutton; and the sound design was by Ian Dickinson.
Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in the book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptional at maths, while everyday life presents some barriers. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world. (from the National Theatre's website)
* SPECIAL NOTE ON CONTENT
This production contains swearing. I have heard every word that is said in this play from students in the halls of our school. I remember talking about the use of curse words by students at our school with my own parents. They were appalled and asked why I don't stop it. In the classroom, I highly discourage using words that others would find offensive, but what I have come to learn is that different language is acceptable by different families. We all have different values and there is no one value set that we all agree upon today.
This play deals with issues that students, teachers, and families face today. During this current school year, I have witnessed three incidents where students were so upset by something that classrooms had to be cleared, hallways had to be shutdown, and even travel restricted for students to allow these situations to be diffused. None of these situations were my business, and all events are confidential based on the individuals involved. In all cases, I heard curse words from students that were frustrated with the challenges they face in life, and a struggle to make sense of their world. I believe that all the students involved want to be happy, successful, and find meaning in their world.
This is exactly what Christopher, the protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, is facing.
However, he never uses curse words. In fact, it is the adults around him that curse in their own frustration with not knowing how to help a child in need. While I have rarely heard a teacher use a curse word in my career as an educator, I am positive that many teachers, administrators, and even parents have felt the need to curse at the challenges they face in trying to help children find their way in the world today. We often see things that are frustrating, challenging, overwhelming, and at times feel beyond our ability to emotionally handle. The adults in this play are facing the same challenges as they deal with Christopher.
Mark Haddon, the author of the book, has the following thoughts on language:
"The fact that there is swearing in a book does not mean that the book 'promotes swearing' any more than it promotes, for example, killing a dog with a garden fork, or telling your son that his mother is dead. Christopher never swears. Because Christopher is largely deaf to tone and subtext he is utterly oblivious to the intended effect of “bad language” and it has absolutely no power to offend him. I find this funny. I think it also says something instructive about how swearing works. You cannot stop children soaking language of all kinds (unless you take them halfway up a mountain and shut the door and burn the tv and that’s not a recipe for a happy adulthood). What children need to learn is how to use language in context, how to articulate their ideas and feelings, how to be heard in a certain way by some people and in another way by other people, how not to offend and (occasionally) how to offend. it’s not about what you say. it’s about what you say to whom, and when, and how."
This production contains swearing. I have heard every word that is said in this play from students in the halls of our school. I remember talking about the use of curse words by students at our school with my own parents. They were appalled and asked why I don't stop it. In the classroom, I highly discourage using words that others would find offensive, but what I have come to learn is that different language is acceptable by different families. We all have different values and there is no one value set that we all agree upon today.
This play deals with issues that students, teachers, and families face today. During this current school year, I have witnessed three incidents where students were so upset by something that classrooms had to be cleared, hallways had to be shutdown, and even travel restricted for students to allow these situations to be diffused. None of these situations were my business, and all events are confidential based on the individuals involved. In all cases, I heard curse words from students that were frustrated with the challenges they face in life, and a struggle to make sense of their world. I believe that all the students involved want to be happy, successful, and find meaning in their world.
This is exactly what Christopher, the protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, is facing.
However, he never uses curse words. In fact, it is the adults around him that curse in their own frustration with not knowing how to help a child in need. While I have rarely heard a teacher use a curse word in my career as an educator, I am positive that many teachers, administrators, and even parents have felt the need to curse at the challenges they face in trying to help children find their way in the world today. We often see things that are frustrating, challenging, overwhelming, and at times feel beyond our ability to emotionally handle. The adults in this play are facing the same challenges as they deal with Christopher.
Mark Haddon, the author of the book, has the following thoughts on language:
"The fact that there is swearing in a book does not mean that the book 'promotes swearing' any more than it promotes, for example, killing a dog with a garden fork, or telling your son that his mother is dead. Christopher never swears. Because Christopher is largely deaf to tone and subtext he is utterly oblivious to the intended effect of “bad language” and it has absolutely no power to offend him. I find this funny. I think it also says something instructive about how swearing works. You cannot stop children soaking language of all kinds (unless you take them halfway up a mountain and shut the door and burn the tv and that’s not a recipe for a happy adulthood). What children need to learn is how to use language in context, how to articulate their ideas and feelings, how to be heard in a certain way by some people and in another way by other people, how not to offend and (occasionally) how to offend. it’s not about what you say. it’s about what you say to whom, and when, and how."
Cast/CREW List
Christopher - Wesley Tillotson
Siobhan - Hana Obaideen
Ed - Noah Hastings
Judy - Aly Arenholz
Voice One, Mrs. Shears, Mrs. Gascoyne, Woman on Train, Shopkeeper - Angie Rivera
Voice Two, Roger Shears, Duty Sergeant, Mr. Wise, Man Behind Counter, Drunk One - Hunter Miller
Voice Three, Policeman, Mr. Thompson, Drunk Two, Man with Socks, London Policeman - Eli Euston
Voice Four, Rev. Peters, Uncle Terry, Station Policeman, Station Guard - Chiron Crabb
Voice Five, N0. 40, Lady in Street, Information, Punk Girl - Niko Sichter
Voice Six, Mrs. Alexander, Posh Woman - Eva Johnson
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Camille Kamseu
Assistant Stage Managers (props & costumes)/Swings - Hayden Boyington & Zachary Rathman
House/Business Crew - Mauryn Kindel
Soundboard - Ivanka Feydash
Lightboard/Props/Costumes - Kyler Mitchell
Projections - Mason Kabler
Siobhan - Hana Obaideen
Ed - Noah Hastings
Judy - Aly Arenholz
Voice One, Mrs. Shears, Mrs. Gascoyne, Woman on Train, Shopkeeper - Angie Rivera
Voice Two, Roger Shears, Duty Sergeant, Mr. Wise, Man Behind Counter, Drunk One - Hunter Miller
Voice Three, Policeman, Mr. Thompson, Drunk Two, Man with Socks, London Policeman - Eli Euston
Voice Four, Rev. Peters, Uncle Terry, Station Policeman, Station Guard - Chiron Crabb
Voice Five, N0. 40, Lady in Street, Information, Punk Girl - Niko Sichter
Voice Six, Mrs. Alexander, Posh Woman - Eva Johnson
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Camille Kamseu
Assistant Stage Managers (props & costumes)/Swings - Hayden Boyington & Zachary Rathman
House/Business Crew - Mauryn Kindel
Soundboard - Ivanka Feydash
Lightboard/Props/Costumes - Kyler Mitchell
Projections - Mason Kabler
Director - David Tate Hastings
Choreographer - Megan Case
Lighting Designer - Jarrett Bertoncin
Assistant to the Director - Amy Hastings
Choreographer - Megan Case
Lighting Designer - Jarrett Bertoncin
Assistant to the Director - Amy Hastings