In each printed program, and before each performance at San Francisco Playhouse, the troupe invites the audience to enter its empathy gym. The company’s current offering, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” running through June 21, offers a truly satisfying and stimulating workout.
The drama (with humor) is Simon Stephens’ spot-on stage adaptation of the award-winning 2003 novel by English writer Mark Haddon, whose protagonist Christopher is a 15-year-old mathematician with behavioral issues on a mission to discover who killed his neighbor’s dog.
The story’s success has much to do with how well it depicts the feelings and experiences of people who have autism. Ditto for this all-around engaging production, directed with verve and sympathy by Playhouse cofounder Susi Damilano and Bridgette Loriaux, whose dynamic choreography performed by an acting ensemble that truly dances brings Christopher’s world alive.
So does the nifty design: Bill English’s set and Christian Mejia’s lights, a swirling amalgamation of neon-lit doorways, are cleverly manipulated by the cast, and Sarah Phykitt’s projections on backdrops depict the complex numerical problems that captivate Christopher (and more).
Brendan Looney, who is autistic, plays the explicitly neurodiverse role with excellence, revealing Christopher’s extraordinary memory, attention to detail and inability to lie, as well as his difficulties relating to strangers, engaging in small talk and or touching anyone, even his troubled yet empathic, and separated, parents, effectively portrayed by Mark P. Robinson and Liz Sklar.
Rounding out the cast are the no-nonsense Sophia Alawi as Christopher’s tell-it-like-it-is teacher and mentor Siobhan, who handily narrates some of the action; and the happily front-facing chorus of folks Christopher encounters: Catherine Luedtke, Cassidy Brown, Wiley Naman Strasser, Whit K. Lee, Renee Rogoff and Laura Domingo comprise the all-important entourage, playing neighbors and cops in Christopher’s hometown Swindon, and the voices of random people filling the busy streets on London, where he travels, with his pet rat, on a big adventure.
Scenes detailing Christopher’s reaction to city life are particularly effective, as is a terrific post-show musical number proving that math indeed can be fun!
Ultimately, though, while “Curious Incident” successfully illuminates and illustrates what life is like for people on the autism spectrum, it’s equally a poignant story of a troubled family finding its way to connection simply by paying attention and displaying old-fashioned compassion—an always winning combination.
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” runs through June 21 at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., San Francisco. Tickets are $35-$135 at sfplayhouse.org.
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