All I knew about the play was what other people had told me: that it was amazing. Other than that I had no idea what to expect from “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The show centers around Christopher, a boy of about fifteen who has autism. He always tells the truth, takes everything literally, and is very clever but is not able to handle every-day life. When he is accused of killing his neighbor’s dog, he tries to find the true culprit. On this search, Christopher reveals surprising secrets that change his whole world.Â
The whole show was different than I expected. It gave an insight into what the mind of an autistic person might be like. When Christopher finds himself in a crowded subway station, the theater became full of disorienting sights and sounds, giving a glimpse of Christopher’s perception of the station. Things that we find annoying or slightly distracting, like advertisements or announcements, nearly incapacitated Christopher. Yet in many ways Christopher was just like many other young boys. He wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. And since he was good at math and science, Christopher saw no reason he couldn’t do or be whatever he wanted.
The show was filled with overwhelming sensory experiences and intensely emotional moments between the characters. It is as much a show about a boy with autism as it is a show about family bonds and the human experience.
At the end of the show, the cast collected for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. They told us that Broadway Cares had also allowed “The Curious Incident” cast to donate a portion of the donations to a center that helps people with autism. This incredible show has begun to shed a new light on the autistic community that will no doubt lead to a greater understanding of their lives.Â