(Above: Left to right, Paul Dunckel, Inga Wilson and Nate Pereira play father, mother, and son in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Oregon Contemporary Theatre; photo courtesy of OCT)

By Randi Bjornstad

Before you decide not to go see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Oregon Contemporary Theatre because (like me) you can’t even stand to think about anything that has to do with hurting an animal, you might check out the rave reviews this play has gotten from major reviewers:

  • Ben Brantley for the New York Times: “… one of the most fully immersive works ever to wallop Broadway. Be prepared to have all your emotional and sensory buttons pushed, including a few you may have not known existed.”
  • Richard Zoglin of Time Magazine: “… a play that works on every level — crowd-pleasing, eye-opening, life-affirming and unmissable.”

I still have my reservations — I’m the type who as a young teen read and reread the ending of My Friend Flicka dozens of times, crying my eyes out every time, I guess because I wanted the next time to be different. I’m also the one who has never read nor seen The Incredible Journey but who nonetheless can’t even think of the plot without tearing up, even though I know from others that it has a happy ending. Same with Old Yeller, which had a non-happy ending that haunts me to this day.

But I am going to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

It’s the story of a 15-year-old boy named Christopher Boone who has no trouble navigating the mathematical universe but is less well-prepared to handle the day-to-day personal one. So when he is wrongfully accused of having killed his neighbor’s dog, he decides to find out who really did it and embarks on a mind-bending and life-changing experience.

The play is adapted by Simon Stephens from the novel by Mark Haddon, and in announcing its appearance on the OCT stage, artistic director Craig Willis said, “My first thoughts were, that was brilliant—and also, how different might this story be on an intimate stage (like OCT’s).”

Stephens, a British playwright, has a very long list of credits to his name that include Tony and Olivier awards for his work in both the U.S. and UK.

John Schmor directs the OCT production, which debuts Nate Pereira as Christopher in his first appearance with Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Paul Dunckel and Inga R. Wilson play Christopher’s parents, with a supporting cast that includes Donella-Elizabeth Alston, Joel Ibañez, Tinamarie Ivey, Kelly Oristano, Tony Stirpe, and Erica Towe, who all play multiple roles.

The production crew features scenic design by Jeffrey Cook, sound and projection by Ryan Rusby, lighting by Michael A. Peterson, and costumes by Jeanette deJong. Adam Whittredge is properties master, with Walter Kennedy as movement trainer and Tricia Rodley as dialect coach. Christle O’Neill is production stage manager.

The British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, describes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time as “intensely, innately theatrical; it is also funny and extremely moving.”

I still plan to go with a pocketful of tissues, just in case.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

When: Preview performances at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 15-16; opening night at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 17; regular evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, 23-25, 30-31, and Feb. 1, 6-8; matinees at 2 p.m. on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2

Note: The Thursday, Feb. 6 performance will be a “sensory-friendly performance,” designed to provide a relaxed, welcoming experience to all community members with sensory sensitivities and their families and friends, featuring lower sound levels to minimize loud or startling sounds; reduced stage lighting; low light in the audience area throughout the show; and ability to come and go and vocalize during the performance. Preparatory materials will be offered.

Where: Oregon Contemporary Theatre, 194 W. Broadway, Eugene

Tickets: $15 ($10 for students) suggested at pay-what-you-can preview performances; $40 opening night includes post-show dessert; regular performances $20, $32, $42, available at the box office, 541-465-1506, or online at octheatre.org

Information: 541-684-6988 or octheatre.org