Today@Sam Article

Mystery Novel Adaption Showcased As Festival Entry

Nov. 13, 2018
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton

Written by: Bri Smith

Sam Houston State University’s Theatre and Musical Theatre Department presents “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” a stage adaption by Simon Stephens of Mark Haddon’s 2003 mystery novel.

Directed by Dave McTier, it will also feature theatre faculty member Kevin Crouch playing the role of Christopher’s father.

“We chose this last spring knowing that it would provide excellent opportunities for our student designers as well as our actors,” McTier said. “Since this is our competitive entry in KCACTF, showcasing our students in as many ways as possible is particularly important.”

Each year the theatre and musical theatre department enters a selected production as a participating entry into The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. This festival located in Washington, D.C. showcases the finest college submissions from eight regions, while also providing KCACTF-sponsored awards in areas such as; student directors and student designers. With 60 scenes in numerous real and imaginary locations setting the tone for a creative staging, “A Curious Incident” will prove to be an exceptional submission in this year’s festival.

“With this production, we have students designing the scenery, projections, animations, music, and costumes, which is a lot given how technically challenging the script is,” McTier said. ​ “It provides an excellent opportunity for ensemble acting with flexible and double casting, plenty of movement and choreography, and lots of dialect work.”

Like the novel, the play follows the adventures of a boy named Christopher trying to figure out who killed his neighbor’s dog. From the start, it is clear that he is atypical of other teenagers in ways that characterize what most recognize as autism. It’s a story about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way.

The School Library Journal praised the story as "rich and poignant.” Critics claim the story shows us “the way consciousness orders the world, even when the world doesn't want to be ordered," calling it "a touching evolution, scripted with tenderness and care,” and “a unique window into the mind of a boy who thinks a little differently, but like many kids his age, doesn't quite know how to feel."

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” will be presented in the Erica Starr Theatre Nov. 14-17, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee performance at 2 p.m.

For more information and tickets, contact the Gaertner Performing Arts Center box office, 936.294.2339 or visit www.shsutickets.com.

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