“All actors remain on stage unless prescribed otherwise. There is also a dead dog. With a fork in it. Scenes run into one another without interruption, regardless of alterations in space or time or chronology.” So begin the stage directions for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. When the lights come up, the dead dog is seen onstage. It is immediately assumed that fifteen-year old Christopher Boone is responsible. He is innocent, however, and decides to investigate. Christopher has a unique mind that is phenomenal at math, but ill-equipped to understand everyday, ordinary life. His investigation (the details of which Christopher records in a book) leads him to discover not just who killed the dog, but secrets within his own family that turn his world upside down. Awarded both the Tony and the Olivier awards for Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time powerfully examines what it truly means to love, and the sacrifices it often takes to do so.
*The play is told from Christopher’s viewpoint, and he is onstage for the entire show. Many of the other characters only appear briefly and have few lines. Christopher is a very literal person and, as he wrote this story, he recorded what he saw, and only that - there is very little interpretation on his part. Therefore, it is up to many of the actors to decide how they want to portray their characters and the lines given them.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time guide sections
