“CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME”: ANOTHER MARVELOUS PRODUCTION FROM CCAE THEATRICALS IN ESCONDIDO.

Photos  by Kari Cadel

 It all started when Wellington,  15 year old Christopher Boone’s (Daniel Patrick Russell) neighbor’s dog was found dead (by means of a fork, no less)  in his backyard. Christopher loved that dog as did everyone in his neighborhood of Swindon England.

Wellington’s death became a mystery to everyone.  Who would have, could have killed the dog? Everyone closest to Christopher wanted ‘to let dying dogs lie’. But Christopher, emulating his favorite Private Eye Sherlock Holmes, began setting out on his own to solve the mystery of the dead dog over the strong objections of his father, Ed (an outstanding Nathan Madden). 

He went about the neighborhood interviewing his neighbors and writing their words  down in a little red notebook that became his own private diary.

If this was all there was to Christopher; but it’s not. Christopher is a mathematical genius who did not like to be touched…by anyone, ever! He had behavioral issues some attributed to autism but were never spelled out loud in the show. 

He went to a ‘private school’ where he excelled in math but needed help with getting through, well, life, so his helper/mentor, Siobhan (Allison Spratt Pearce is perfect) shadowed him most of the time guiding and suggesting and letting the audience in on what’s going on.

Over the course of events we learn that his mum has died, but she really has not. He makes a trip to London all by himself, he finds his mum alive, he passes his math performance test with flying colors and prepares to go on furthering his education, which he is confident of doing All this is written in his red notebook,  which eventually becomes a published best -selling book that eventually is  the foundation of this splendid production with deft direction by J. Scott Lapp. 

All well and good, but it’s the makeup of the production that will gives CCAE another Oscar(Award) for outstanding work including incredible choreography by, Natalie Iscovich,  outstanding projection designs by Blake McCarty, Scenic/Cinematography, Matthew Herman, Lighting Mike Billings, Costumes, Janet Pitcher, Wigs and Hair Peter Merman, and Sound by Jon Fredette.

With the high energy ensemble acting, (Melissa Fernandes, Drew Bradford, Berto Fernandez, Dallas McLaughlin,  playing several townspeople),  the choreography; the everything that makes (I saw it on the closing performance) this particular production so special. Is a once in a lifetime treat. Such preciseness both physically and watching this young boy’s mind work to figure out ways to make his life doable is an extraordinary experience. 

If you ever get a chance to see a production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time”  do!   

See you at the theatre.

Coming up next at CCAE: MOTOWN, March 29 and 30.