The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

How adventurous are you with what entertainment you’ll invest in?

How often do you have no idea what you’re about to get into? For the coming two hours, it’s a surprise, it’s the unknown, it’s a time you’re handing over to the creator of your time for the foreseeable, albeit short, future. In other words, I had no idea what the play was about and I didn’t want to know.

This is also a review so that I remember that we even saw this play, that I remember that it was in London, that it was powerful and moving and our kids were back in the hotel with a room service pizza, WiFi and bliss.

Autism. That was the only word I heard in the entry of the grand theater in London before the show started. I thought it was something about a dog and late at night and I thought maybe a murder mystery. Turns out, it was a murder mystery, but not in the tradition sense.

It was an insightful and chilling look into the mind of an autistic boy. Through brilliant acting,believable monologues and even some special effects, the stage brought us deep into the mind of a 15-year old autistic young man. If I didn’t know a few autistic young boys personally, I would have understood and believed the story less. But because I do, I understood it all too well.

Compared with last night’s slapstick play on words, The Curious Incident was a drama based on what is usually behind closed doors. But we were let through the doors, in fact, we were allowed into the mind of the young boy. It was one of those events that you cannot un-see. Now that I have seen the play, I feel that I have a better understanding–and more respect–for those who have the disease. But also more patience and respect for those who work with and care for autistic children (and adults).

It’s an extremely well done play and I was riveted most of the show. But it’s no slapstick. It’s no comedy. It’s real life about people who live real life.