Spring Drama: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

Reported by Emma Bach

This spring, the George Fox University (GFU) theatre department is putting on the drama “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Debuting April 4, this Tony Award-winning show is scheduled to run for two weekends and contains some adult themes.

The story centers around Christopher, a boy with Aspergers Syndrome, and his quest for truth.

Rhett Luedtke, professor of Theatre, describes the play as “an inspiring story of the mystery of the human mind and the power of forgiveness.”

JeanneAnn Faris, a fourth-year student and director of the show, was responsible for choosing the play. When describing the process of directing and how the show came to be, Faris explained why the play stood out to her:

“I have a particular interest in stories that an audience member will leave understanding another person or another experience more deeply and really and truly,” Faris said. “I also think that it’s a very challenging show on a lot of different fronts. It’s a great challenge for all of us, and it’s a story that I think really matters right now, which is what theatre should always be doing.”

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is set to be delightfully different — unlike most plays, which have around three to six scenes, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is made up of 57 short scenes. It will also be produced “in-round,” which means the audience will be on all four sides of the stage.

“Contemporary theatre is moving in this direction a little bit,” Faris said. “We’re breaking that mold.”

Tickets can be purchased online. Faris encouraged everyone to come and see the show:

“It’s the best kind of play because it’s dramatic and comedic and tragic and hilarious and everything in between,” Faris said. “The way that we’re doing it at George Fox is going to look different, and I think that’s significant.”