Review and Q&A: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Indiana Repertory Theatre opened its season with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It's a murder mystery, but not in the traditional sense. The murdered party is a dog and the "detective" is a teenage boy named Christopher, whose developmental disabilities allow him to see the world through a unique lens. The show is at once emotionally exhausting and energetic. There's humor strategically placed in almost every scene to help break the tension.

Mickey Rowe is acrobatic as Christopher. He is the first autistic actor to tackle the role in an American production. Though that's an accomplishment in its own right, he's also spot on in his portrayal. His ticks, his conversations, his immediate strong reactions when anything in his world deviates from its comfortable patterns, all of these things give the audience an accurate look at the world of one person with a developmental disability. 

As much as this is clearly Christopher's story, the roles of his mother and father, deftly played by Constance Macy and Robert Neal, provide much of the play's heart. They know their son can only connect to them in specific ways, but that doesn't make it any easier when you just want a tiny sign of affection. Their restraint in moments of passion are heartbreaking. It's easy to see the strain they've been under and the deep love they have for their son. 

In adapting the novel into a play, one strange decision was to break the fourth wall in the second act. It was an unnecessary choice that takes the audience out of Christopher's carefully-constructed world. The modern set includes a multi-media screen which flashes with numbers and lights to helps the audience see Christopher's train of thought. It's cleverly turned into a train in one scene, seamlessly giving the illusion of movement with only a few adjustments to the set. There are moments that are intentionally sensory overload, a crucial part of understanding what Christopher is going through. 

In the end, the show does what the best productions aim to do. It allows the audience to see the world through another person's eyes. It opens a door into a completely different point of view, shedding light on individuals that are often overlooked. The play provides the opportunity to pause and think about the challenges others face and the ways we might be able to show more compassion in our everyday lives.

Don't Miss the Show 

The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, one-half block west of the Circle Center Mall between northbound Illinois St. and southbound Capitol Ave. The show runs until Oct. 14 on IRT's OneAmerica Mainstage. Times for performances can be found at www.irtlive.com or by calling the IRT box office at (317) 635-5252. To purchase tickets call (317) 635-5252 or order online at www.irtlive.com

Photos courtesy of the IRT

Below is a short Q&A with the production's director and lead actor.
Director: Risa Brainin

Q: As the director of the first American production to feature an autistic in the lead role, what impact do you think this production can have for an audience member with a development disorder?A: Mickey Rowe’s portrayal of Christopher is so organic and genuine that I think audience members on the autism spectrum will relate to Christopher and perhaps see themselves reflected in some of his behavior. Since the term “autism” is a very large umbrella encompassing a wide range of behaviours, some people may relate to certain aspects of the character, while others connect with a different part of Christopher. The saying goes, “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” That said, for the autism community to see an actor on the spectrum play a character on the spectrum has already made a large impact. Inclusion is the first step to erasing stereotypes and stigmas attached to autism.

Q: What did Mickey bring to the role as an autistic actor that another actor might have missed?A: Mickey brought his very personal life experience to the role. Of course an actor can play an autistic character, but nothing substitutes for real life experience. I relied on Mickey to make the characteristics of autism genuine. We talked about what stims Christopher might have and together, we made choices that ring true for both the character and Mickey.

Q: You mentioned that the character of Christopher has reactions that are “unencumbered by politics, prejudices, or preconceptions.” I our society, where we are often so careful to say the right thing, was it refreshing to work on a piece that allowed you to ignore those restraints?A: I love the character of Christopher and how he tells the truth. One of the directions I offered to the other actors was to really be surprised when Christopher answers truthfully. It can be quite disarming to hear the plain truth!


Mickey Rowe:
Q: You’ve spoken about feeling vulnerable in everyday life, so transferring that to your performance on stage comes easily. What do you struggle with as an actor that others might take for granted?A: The biggest struggles for me are the hand shakes, small talk, eye contact necessary during an interview and audition with a director that are necessary for getting a role. I can make eye contact no problem on stage! It's harder off stage. Also if the scenes provided for you to read at an audition aren't 18 pt font then I really can't read them and the audition becomes more of a vision test then an audition or experiment to see how me and that director can collaborate together. During this show the hardest part is the grocery shopping, remembering to pay bills, signing contracts, "executive function" type stuff that happen off stage. But I really don't feel effected that much on stage.

Q: You are the first American autistic actor to play the role of Christopher. Did you feel an added pressure because of that?
A: Absolutely! I feel a pressure to make sure that I use this opportunity for everything that it is worth, for both myself and the disability community at large to show, "Look! We can do amazing work! We can be professional! You can hire us! People with disabilities get the job done!"

Q: Is this the first time you’ve played a character with a developmental disability?
A: This is the first time I've gotten to play a character with a developmental disability.

Q: What was it like to bring some of your own experiences to the stage?A: get to feel so myself on stage. In so many ways for me this is the easiest role I've ever gotten to play even though it is the largest. I feel so myself in so many moments on stage.