Solving the Mystery of Life

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Audiences

 

Steppenwolf’s Theatre for Young Audiences has done it again. As in so many past productions, this division of the company’s regular season of excellence is once again providing another stimulating, challenging work directed at middle and high school audiences. Over the past several seasons more and more grownups have discovered Steppenwolf’s exciting, thought-provoking productions, aimed primarily at adolescents. They, too, wanted to share in these treasures. So now, while Chicago’s premiere theatre company continues selling out to school groups for weekday matinees, they offer almost as many tickets to adult and family audiences for the weekend performances. The secret is out now and this new offering is a great example of Steppenwolf’s finest work.  

A young boy with special needs is shocked and deeply saddened to find Wellington, his neighbor’s dog, lying in the yard, stabbed with a garden pitchfork. Christopher Boone sets out to solve the mystery of who would commit such a savage, unthinkable crime. Although never explicitly identified in the play, young Christopher is one of the increasing percentage of children born on the autism spectrum. In this gripping mystery, Christopher must not only deal with the shockingly brutal murder of his neighbor’s dog, but also with his relationship with his parents, a trustful partnership with his teacher, Siobhan, as well as with all the strangers who populate his world.

Based upon British author Mark Haddon’s 2003 award-winning young adult novel, this story of an extraordinary 15-year-old boy, with enough personal challenges to tax even the strongest adult, becomes complicated when his life is suddenly turned upside down. All of the ensuing aggravation and entangled dilemmas Christopher experiences stem from his drive to solve the mystery that’s taken place in his own suburban neighborhood. However, he comes to learn a great deal about his parents’ relationship, as well as those around him. His journey takes him far outside his comfort zone forcing Christopher to travel alone to the big city of London. In addition, this mathematically gifted young man is determined to take the A-level mathematics exam that will prove his brilliance and allow him to skip ahead in school.

This play is a story about how people, especially those with special needs, seek comfort in everyday order. It explores how a special needs young boy deals with family crisis and attempts to make sense of the world around him. Christopher can’t read people. Everything to him is black and white. Facts are his security blanket, especially mathematics and lists of figures. Metaphors confuse him and he prefers statistics. In his book, Haddon created a stunning portrait of the inner workings of a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome. This play, adapted by Simon Stephens, which debuted in London in 2012, earned seven Olivier Awards. The production then transferred to Broadway in 2014, where it won every theatrical award out there, including the Tony for Best Play.

Jonathan Berry, a brilliant Steppenwolf director and teacher, helmed the company’s recent, stirring production of “The Crucible.” He’s also the gifted guide of many terrific presentations at Steep Theatre, such as “Birdland” and “Posh.” In the first of two TYA productions for the new season, Mr. Berry repeats his past success, once again infusing life and learning into a groundbreaking play for audiences of all ages. He’s cast his production with eight topnotch actors and a talented team of creative support. Berry has guided his actors with wisdom and a sensitivity that translates into a gripping, stunning and heartbreaking production that ultimately brings audiences to their feet. Theatergoers will shed a few tears at the tenderness he’s coaxed out of this cast and cheer Christopher’s achievement in his fight to survive, against all odds.

The cast is led by a brilliant young actor named Terry Bell, making his promising Steppenwolf debut. With unrestrained compassion and energy Bell becomes a teenager who has established his own rules and agenda for living, a kid with whom audiences will empathize and love. The sheer physicality of this role is daunting enough, but the actor never leaves the stage and speaks continually with eloquence, enthusiasm and emotion. This talented actor, while a different type than his Broadway predecessor, is truly wonderful. There can be few other roles like this and Mr. Bell expertly commands the stage at every turn.

He’s supported by an excellent supporting cast. Cedric Mays is Ed, Christopher’s frustrated, but loving father. He plays a man who’s trying his best to be a good dad, but life gets in the way. Coping with the complications of being the father of a boy with unique special needs, along with trying to grapple with a married relationship that’s gone bad, Mr. Mays creates a man who’s sad and touching. While evoking the audience’s empathy, we see someone dealing with a situation that’s grown out of control. Rebecca Spence plays Judy, Christopher’s caring mother, who has hit the wall and sought solutions to life’s problems by running away from them. She adores Christopher and will do everything to help and protect him. Despite Judy’s inability to be the mother she’d like, Ms. Spence eventually earns our admiration, especially in the final scenes of the play.

As Siobhan, Christopher’s friend and special needs instructor, Caroline Neff is sheer perfection. She’s the calm voice of reason, the one constant in Christopher’s life. Siobhan is the kind of teacher we’d love for all our children. Meg Thalken is a sweetly earnest and caring neighbor lady, Mrs. Alexander, who befriends Christopher and innocently provides the information that starts him on his journey. Eunice Woods plays several roles, including Christopher’s neighbor, Mrs. Shears, but is particularly hilarious as the school principal. Christopher M. Walsh, another actor making his Steppenwolf debut, is wonderfully versatile and quite funny in various roles, most notably a very frustrated policeman with whom Christopher must deal. And Scott Allen Luke is terrific, beautifully playing so many roles, especially Mr. Shears. He often finds himself verbally interacting with Christopher and even helping elevate him into air, as he tumbles through this wonderland of adventures.

Jonathan Berry’s production features the creativity of several unseen artists. Brandon Wardell supplies the scenic and lighting demands for this production, complemented by Joseph Burke’s mesmerizing projections. The perfect tone is set with an original musical score and sound design, created by Pornchanok Kanchanabanca, and the cast’s challenging movement is coached by Dan Plehal. It should also be noted that autism consultation was provided by the PACTT Learning Center. This is truly a total theatrical masterpiece.

Christopher’s attempt to cope with and solve the mystery of life, while dealing with his own special needs, is a story that grabs hold of the audience and never lets go. Even after the curtain call, Terry Bell continues impressing the audience with Christopher’s fast-paced explanation of how he solved the math equation that earned him his A-Level in math. This engrossing play is like “Billy Elliot” enmeshed with “A Beautiful Mind.” It’s definitely one of the most breathtaking productions that theatergoers of all ages will likely see for a long time to come. Do not miss this fine production in its limited Chicago engagement! 

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

 

Presented October 3-27 by Steppenwolf’s Theatre for Young Audiences, 1650 N. Halsted, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the Steppenwolf box office, by calling 312-335-1650 or by going to www.steppenwolf.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.