The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Reviewed on November 9, 2018

Ashley Valent
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Disability does not mean inability. While it has its limitations, a disability could be overcome with drive and ambition. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" superbly captivated audience members in this essential theme leaving all those watching speechless.

Based on Mark Haddon's 2003 mystery novel of the same name, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" first premiered in the West End before making its Broadway debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2014. Having been awarded a multitude of accolades, the stage adaptation follows the adventures Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old mathematical genius with an autism spectrum disorder, and his navigation through difficult subject matters such as murder, betrayal, and acceptance.

All conflicts arise following one incident: the murder of Wellington, a neighbor's dog. Throughout the first act, Christopher becomes enthralled with the mysterious case and begins to question fellow neighbors as possible suspects. It is over the course of his detective work that the actuality of his mother, played by Sawyer Garrity, and the violent tendencies of his father, played by Alex Wind, become evident. Both actors aptly depicted the parental nature of these characters and made the audience sympathize with their hardships. Despite the distress brought to Christopher through his family dynamics, he, at last, accomplishes his primary goal of passing his A-level mathematics exam, all the while solving the murder of Wellington, finding his mother, and writing a book about his journey.

Above all, the standout performance of the night was that of Logan Weber as Christopher. Portraying the play's protagonist, Weber embodied the mannerisms and emotional depth required throughout the entirety of the production all while remaining consistent with a foreign dialect. Weber's portrayal established the mind in which Christopher Boone struggled with and brought no offense in the process.

Along with the excellent performances, the technical aspect of this production was quite admirable. Having been almost entirely student-operated, the intricate lighting design by Euan Beith, the special effects created by Cameron Appel, and the musical composition of Andrea Peña indeed created the visual and auditory facets of Christopher's mind and made this performance the utmost memorable.

A minor inconsistency, however, was the usage of dialect by select company members. Jumping in and out of their intended diction, certain actors made the location and the plot seem implausible during specific scenes. However, in retrospect, these flaws had little to no effect on the overall performance.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" undoubtedly had a lasting effect on audience members and adequately conveyed the compelling message that disability does not mean inability.

Naja Brown
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Adolescence is a stressful, and confusing period of life, especially for the estimated 500,000 teenagers living with Autism. In Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the touching story of a young boy with Autism is told. Adapted from the novel penned by Mark Haddon in 2003, and written for the stage by Simon Stephens in 2012. The play follows a 15-year old mathematical genius named Christopher Boone, who is living with Asperger's Syndrome. After finding his neighbor's deceased dog, Christopher decides that he will attempt to uncover who murdered the dog. What seemed like a harmless search for a mysterious murderer, soon evolves into Christopher's oblivious unraveling of some buried family secrets.

Leading the play as Christopher, was Logan Weber. Portraying a mentally disabled character can be a challenging task for many, but Weber managed to deliver a nearly flawless performance. From his consistent British accent, and a dedication to most accurately depicting his character, Weber's performance is truly worth celebrating. Some other commendable performances include: Dylan Redshaw as Siobhan, Christopher's school teacher, and Alex Wind as Ed Boone, Christopher's father. They both truly cherished every moment they had on stage, and were refreshing to watch as they were fearless in allowing their performances to be vulnerable, by displaying raw emotions. Not only did these actors shine, but the group of actors portraying the Voices, did a brilliant job. Considering that they rarely left the stage, and collectively remained in sync throughout the play, displays that the ensemble had a fantastic connection with each other, and a commitment to their roles.

While the production did have exceptional actors among it, the technical aspects deserve to be applauded as well. The special effects team added a unique aspect to the experience, by using animated projections that complimented different elements of the story. In addition to special effects, the publicity, marketing crew worked diligently to promote their show. The crew acquired advertisements, made promotional videos, had a British word of the day, and used many other strategies in order to attract an audience. But, one of the most remarkable technical aspects, was the work of Andrea Peña. She impressively composed many complex original musical pieces, which added a pleasant feeling to the show. In general, the play was technically pleasing and creative.

Overall, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was quite exceptional. They told a tale of the journey a young man took, that allowed him to prove that he was capable of being independent and that the obstacles that we face in life can be beneficial in helping us grow as humans. Despite any disorders, or disabilities.

Madeline Finkelman
North Broward Preparatory School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Who killed Wellington? In Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's powerful presentation of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, what begins as a typical whodunit transforms into a touching family drama told from inside the complex mind of an atypical teen.

Written by Simon Stephens and based on the novel by Mark Haddon, the play first premiered in London in 2012 and hit the West End the next year. The show, which debuted on Broadway in 2014 and won the Tony for Best Play, follows Christopher, a 15-year old boy on the autism spectrum. As he tries to solve the mystery of the neighbor's murdered dog after he is falsely accused, he finds the real mysteries are within his own life. The story is told through his eyes, offering a unique perspective on his attempts to make sense of a world he doesn't always understand.

Christopher was bravely and believably brought to life by Logan Weber. Weber movingly and maturely captured Christopher's literal-mindedness and social anxieties through his incredibly deliberate movements, mannerisms, and speech patterns. Despite Christopher's difficulty with human interaction, Weber's deft acting created a character who is painfully real and relatable. His father, Ed, was played with aching emotion by Alex Wind. Wind's palpably pained portrayal displayed a dynamic range from violent intensity to tender vulnerability as Ed deals with his ever-challenging son. His anguish over the choices he's made and how they have affected Christopher infuse the scenes Weber and Wind share with a heart-wrenching sentiment.

While Christopher's dad dominates his day-to-day home life, it's the women in his world that most illuminate his path of self-discovery. As his eternally and maternally patient teacher Siobhan, Dylan Redshaw radiated compassion and warmth, passionately propelling the story through eloquent narration of her student's writings. Redshaw's heartfelt performance helped to humanize Christopher and made her devotion to him feel authentic and honest. Sawyer Garrity ably played Judy, the estranged mother who Christopher is determined to find. With an aching unguardedness, Garrity beautifully exhibits her character's conflicting roles of loving mother and fallible woman.

The production's ensemble exquisitely served as both the supporting characters and part of the set itself. The cast's precision and fluidity created the feeling of a breathing canvas on which Christopher's adventure unfolds. From waves in the ocean to an interactive ATM, actors artfully created vivid, living set pieces that brought intensity and purpose to the stage.

The technical elements of the show were central to telling the story from Christopher's point of view. The video projection of a floor-to-ceiling grid consumed the stage and with images like cascading numbers and shooting stars, aptly represented Christopher's mathematical and mystical mind at work. Lighting elements effectively served to delineate space and time on the stage, and an original musical score was both chilling and compelling.

With sweet sincerity and masterful storytelling, Douglas Drama's remarkable cast and crew conveyed a conventional coming-of-age tale with the unconventional message that acceptance, understanding, and hope can solve some of life's greatest mysteries.

Liv Byrne
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Words can be lies, but actions speak the truth. We use "sayings" and "metaphors" that means the opposite of our intention, and sometimes we say one thing, but do another. In Marjory Stoneman Douglas's version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the protagonist, Christopher Boone, helps us realize this.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows the story of a young boy, Christopher Boone, solving the mystery of his neighbor's dog's murder. Along the way, Christopher discovers more mysteries involving the "disappearance" of his mother, his father's struggle with anger and depression, and what living situation fits him best. Based off of Mark Haddon's 2003 novel, Simon Stephens turned this beautiful story into a play in 2012. It premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London in 2012 before moving to the Apollo Theatre in 2013. After its first premiere, it tied the record for winning seven Olivier Awards.

Logan Weber (Christopher Boone) exceeded expectations with his well-researched approach to his character. Weber distinguished his idiosyncrasies and made strong choices in his physicality. Dylan Redshaw (Siophan, Christopher's motherlike teacher) did an excellent job of carrying the show as the translator of Christopher Boone with her unwavering spirit and unstoppable energy. Alongside the two talented actors was, Alex Wind (Ed Boone). Wind established a firm and multilayered relationship with his son, Christopher, and successfully took on the challenge of silence, using it to his advantage.

The ensemble provided a skillful vitality to the multiple scenes of the show. With great commitment and attention to detail, the "Voices" helped express the chaos going on inside Christopher's mind. In busy scenes such as "Willesden Junction," set at a train station in London, the ensemble created unique and easily differentiable characters. But, were, later on, able to join forces, creating one strong focus in Christopher's bedroom scenes. Overall, the members' intense focus and unity provided a strong foundation for the show.

In addition to the ensemble, the light projections heavily added to the audience's relation to the workings of Christopher's mind. Based off of the original Broadway production, Cameron Appel created a brilliant light show which played an essential part in the show. Representing Christopher's views on the world, the light show contained multiple mind illusions including zooming numbers, fidgeting raindrops, flying dogs, and grid illusions. With excellent execution and terrific timing, the light show held a steady helping hand in aiding the audience's understanding of Christopher.

Looking through Christopher's perspective on life, we learn that sometimes we don't look or listen carefully. We make "impulsive" decisions and hide the truth to escape its pain. Christopher understands the flaws of those around him more piercingly than we like to acknowledge but shows us that there is always a way to get through the troubles of our eternal obstacle: daily life.

Emma Sugarman
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"Some people think the Milky Way is a long line of stars, but it isn't. Our galaxy is a huge disc of stars millions of light-years across." Equivalent to the many misconceptions about outer space, Christopher, a 15 year old boy, has transcended the limitations implemented on him by society by demonstrating his bravery as the story unraveled. Marjory Stoneman Douglas's production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" will have you asking whodunnit until the stars align and the truth is unveiled.

Based on the novel by Mark Haddon, this captivating play, written by Simon Stephens, premiered on August 12, 2012 at the Royal National Theatre. The narrative revolves around a brilliant teenager, Christopher, with Asperger's Syndrome. The story begins as a murder mystery surrounding the death of the neighbor's dog, Wellington, and eventually evolves into a touching tale regarding the family's unique relationships.

Logan Weber portrayed the inquisitive math prodigy, Christopher Boone. Due to the character's developmental disorder, Weber incorporated "self-stimulating behaviors" into his physicality. Christopher struggles with social interaction and verbal communication and relies on distinct mechanisms to convey his emotions. Weber executed these attributes flawlessly. Also assisting in delivering Christopher's mentality to the audience, was Christopher's primary school teacher, Siobhan, played by Dylan Redshaw. Redshaw expressed an optimistic view of Christopher's story through her bright and positive narration.

Christopher's parents, Ed Boone and Judy, were portrayed by Alex Wind and Sawyer Garrity, respectively. Wind and Garrity both developed strong chemistry with Weber. They both showcased their affection for their child, however, presented it in an individual way. The mature actors executed the discordant dynamic between the parents impeccably. Wind did a marvelous job hinting at his secrets while leaving the perfect amount of suspense. Garrity, Wind's adversary, integrated the caring and impatient aspects of her character together beautifully.

The technical aspects of the production did an exquisite job communicating to the audience how Christopher perceives the world. The Voices' well choreographed and clean movements enhanced each scene by producing a visual representation of Christopher's mind. Accompanying the choreography, the projections depicted a mesmerizing image. The addition of the original score composed by Andrea Pena immersed each audience member into the scene.

Watch a boy solve the mystery of how to liberate the bravery he always had inside him with Marjory Stoneman Douglas's production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." Prepare to venture off into a universe of detectives, family, and sacrifice. Leave behind the yellow and brown conundrum and reach for the gold stars in the sky.

Jaime Happel
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to

With a title quoting one of the most famous of detectives, Sherlock Holmes, Marjory Stoneman Douglas' far from an elementary production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" proves they certainly have no problem drawing anyone's attention. After the sudden death of a neighbor's dog, a young boy becomes determined to find the killer and manages to discover the messiness of life along the way.

Premiering at the Royal National Theatre in London of 2012, the show features all of the sentiment, hardships, and intrigue as presented in Mark Haddon's 2005 mystery novel of the same name. The play by Simon Stephens won multiple honors including five Tony Awards, notably, Best Play. The production also tied the seven Olivier Award record.

Logan Weber depicted the mathematically gifted and lovable teenaged sleuth, Christopher Boone. Weber perfected an honest portrayal of the autistic 15-year old, delving into the character's complexity by maintaining consistent varieties of realistic ticks and mannerisms. Weber's raw vulnerability and natural chemistry allowed for beautiful contrast within the Boone's unique family dynamic. Christopher's isolation can seem to get the best off him, yet Weber brilliantly showcased balancing the gifted child's social struggles and establishing a distinct connection with each character encountered.

While it's tempting to get caught in patterns while reading, Siobhan's (Dylan Redshaw) narration was anything but dull. With expressive facials and a vivacious personality, Redshaw was able to bring the story off the page while successfully transitioning into a nurturing teacher for Christopher. Ed Boone (Alex Wind) and his wife Judy (Sawyer Garrity), illustrated the guilt and detriment of deceit, as shared through their outstanding character development throughout the play. Wind's undaunted embrace of silence spoke volumes, daring to emotionally venture even further into the reality of his troubles.

The Voices remained fully engaged, progressing the story by personifying Christopher's thoughts. When found portraying a character, sometimes the ensembles accents displayed inconsistency. Serving as both performers and set, the ensemble's versatility proved integral to the show's minimalistic approach while adding to the overall visual presentation. Their stylized choreography by Isabela Barry and John Barnitt was almost always executed with precision and motivation. The lifts and dips of Weber and Redshaw across the stage created a captivating image of their flight through imaginary outer space.

Andrea Peña allowed her creativity to shine by contributing breathtaking original composition that tied the show together. Exceptional special effects, designed by Cameron Appel, presented a myriad of geometric shapes, vivid neon colors, whirlpools of prime numbers, and specialized fonts projected across the screens. Transitions between scenes were fluid. However, there were a few occasions on which actors were caught in the dark due to spotlight operation.

Douglas drama's production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" inspires the young dreamer in all of us. No matter if you wanted to become an actor, an author, a detective or even an astronaut, by recalling some of the earliest and most extravagant dreams we have as kids, memories of what it was like to possess the power of an active imagination are evoked. With the help of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, we are reminded that we indeed can do anything.