Concord Players' Powerful Rendition of "The Curious Incident"

Four red cars mean it will be a good day.

Concord Players brings the pages of Mark Haddon’s novel, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” to the stage. Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy on the autism spectrum, investigates the murder of his neighbor’s dog. His sleuthing leads to uncovering serious discoveries about his own family.

I read “Curious Incident” as summer reading when I was a junior in high school. It has remained a book that’s lingered on my mind. Concord Players achieves an incredibly deep production. It approaches sensitive subject matter with genuine care. No matter who we are, we can achieve any enormous obstacle with courage.

Christopher Boone may seem ordinary, but he is so much more. Finian Ross brings this character to life with honesty, bravery, and a beautifully human performance. Throughout the story, Christopher undergoes awful revelations that test him. He becomes an unexpected hero and courageously ventures into the world in search of answers.

Nick Bennett-Zendzian and Becky Ruccio play Christopher’s parents, Ed and Judy. ‘Complicated’ is an understatement in how they have raised their son. Their decisions and parenting raise questions. Both have flaws, but love Christopher.

Bennett-Zendzian and Ruccio’s performances are filled with visible love and frustration of a parent’s difficult journey. Each actor portrays their guilt, love, and conflict with raw emotion.

We all need mentors like Siobhan (Amelia Smith). Siobhan helps Christopher understand dark morals in the best ways she can. Smith also dictates strong narration with empathy.

In the theater, no part is ever small. The ensemble plays an assortment of characters: neighbors, teachers, or strangers. Their reactions to Christopher’s behavior are especially important, illustrating how the world often misunderstands or mishandles those who experience it differently. Everyone makes bold acting choices.

Michael Jay’s direction interweaves creative elements. Allan Bantly and Ava Enoch design the stage as a classroom. Theater is about the power of imagination. One of my favorite scenes was Christopher searching his house. Drawings of a refrigerator, couch, and a wardrobe are created to distinguish Christopher’s perspective.

As Jay notes in the program, “Curious Incident” is not a ‘fun’ story. The play does not shy away from Christopher’s nightmares and painful revelations. This story highlights neurodivergence. Nobody sees the world as the same. Similar to Christopher, every day, people are taking new steps that could be easy for someone else, but challenging to them.

The honesty in Jay’s direction is what makes this production so powerful. As he said, “Curious Incident” means a lot to him. This is a story about bravery. Bravery has several definitions. What is rarely showcased is that it’s okay to be scared.

“Each of us are on our own hero’s journeys. In much the same way as Christopher is,” Jay said. “Neurodivergent or not, teenager or not, Christopher models for all of us that you can do these things.”

“Curious Incident” deals with sensitive subject matter. The weight of the story was evident throughout the audience. Some people were audibly shocked by the revelations. There are some comical moments as audiences laughed at Christopher’s innocent remarks.

If anything, this show sparked conversations. Once the intermission occurred, two people sitting behind me checked in with each other. Emotions are an integral part of this show. Announced at the beginning, Concord Players accommodates a quiet room for any audience members who find certain themes overwhelming. It’s a thoughtful gesture.

This was my first time seeing a show at Concord Players. It’s a welcoming theater in a nice town with stores and restaurants. “Curious Incident” plays at Concord Players until Feb. 28. Bring your friends and family to a show. There’s a fun addition after the curtain call.