EMA Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime *****1/2 Irresistible

By Paul Atreides

Author, Playwright, and Theatre Critic at EatMoreArtVegas.compaul-atreides.com  

The play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Simon Stephens, won the 2013 Olivier Best Play Award on the West End and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2015, and is based on Mark Haddon’s 2003 award-winning novel of the same title.

It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and everything in between.

Both novel and play follow 15-year-old Christopher Boone as he tries to unravel the mysterious killing of a neighbor’s dog. In a novel, a writer can easily immerse you in the world of a protagonist’s mind. But how do you put a theatre audience inside the mind of a highly intelligent kid on the Autism spectrum?

The character’s dialogue? The actor’s physical actions?

Trenton Klinkefus delivers both in spades and never falters, never fails. Tugging on heartstrings, he takes the audience along for the ride, confused, scared, angry, frustrated, and happy. Klinkefus delivers it all in a tour de force performance, such that he is Christopher to his core as he navigates a world that doesn’t understand him and that he is ill-equipped to handle.

Deftly and delicately directed by Hallie Lyons, she’s cast a talented ensemble playing a myriad of supporting characters. While it would be easy to portray the characters as stereotypes, Lyons has ensured that the characters are real, never overdone or overwrought, and mines the humor without punching it.

But how does the audience actually see what is going on in the character’s mind? Enter highly technical aspects, neatly accomplished with Ron Linblom’s set of black walls covered in numbers, cubes that morph from chairs to bed to subway train, a raised center platform lined out in squares, and two small and one giant LED displays that take us from the immediate neighborhood to northwest London by train and the Underground. At one point, Ginny Adams’ lighting design even provides lines on the stage floor that Christopher can follow.

Lest you assume the production is amazing solely because of the technical elements, it’s important to note that the technical elements never overpower the actors; they only enhance their words and actions. In this critic’s view, it’s perfectly balanced.

This is a stunning production from the first foot that steps onto the stage to the final blackout. Performances are bound to sell out fast. Don’t waste time. Get tickets. Now.

What: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

When: 7 p.m. Friday - Saturday

            2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 3

Where: Las Vegas Little Theatre - Mainstage, 3920 Schiff Drive

Tickets: $20* - $37 (702-362-7996; www.lvlt.org)

*Students under 18 – call during Box Office hours

Grade:  *****1/2 Irresistible

Producer: Las Vegas Little Theatre; Director: Hallie Lyons; Set Design: Ron Lindblom; LED Creator: Martin Crawford; Lighting Design: Ginny Adams; Sound Design: Hallie Lyons, Jacob Moore; Costume Design, Prop Master, Stage Manager: Julie Horton