The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-​Time is one of my favorite books of all time, so naturally, I had to come see the play adaptation! Also I have to give a big applause to the actor who portrayed the main character. He definitely met my expectation and imagination of Christopher in the book, and made him come alive on stage. Speaking of stage, I was thoroughly impressed with the creativity and interactive aspects of the stage. It was definitely one of the most creative stages, I could see they put a lot of thought and effort into building it.
In terms of price and venue, I got the $ 27 ticket from the box office and was scared that I wouldn’t have a good view. To my surprise, I was able to see and hear everything clearly. I don’t think there is any bad seat in the venue, so buy away whatever ticket you can find.
Recommended? Yes, but I think it helps a lot if you have read the book beforehand.

3.5 for me.
I liked this play, but didn’t love it. Looks like I’m in the minority here though and I could tell the people around me at the show seemed to really enjoy it too.
Perhaps part of it is that I had a minor misconception of the direction the story would take. I had thought this would be more of a mystery solving type but a socially maladjusted but overly bright aspergers kid, but it definitely focuses more on the much deeper issues regarding family/​relationships/​responsibility etc.
One thing that detracted the experience for me were the acoustics. For the first, I’m not sure 30 minutes at least, it was kind of hard to hear the actors, particularly the teacher who is narrating from the book. Later on they seemed to have fixed the issue, but it was pretty annoying.
The good things:
The set is frickin amazing. Seriously, I wish I could install those walls into my bedroom and setup the rain scene they have. The acoustics (later on) were pretty cool too.
The actor playing the boy (forget his name) was quite superb as well. Body language and mannerisms along with speech were all spot on.
There’s definitely some strong issues at play and there are some touching moments along with some pretty evocative emotions. What kind of parent would you turn out to be if you could never even touch your own child to offer them comfort? Hard topics to grasp. Overall, I think most people would enjoy the play, I just personally would offer other suggestions before I mentioned this one.

Amazing play! Such a great adaptation of the book… loved the lights and sounds! Stay after applause to hear him explain his math exam answer! :)

This is a play that really stays with you for a while. I saw it last year during Broadway Week and I still find myself raving about it to people. I laughed, cried, and sat on the edge of my seat. Very few plays can elicit so many emotions in two hours and 30 minutes. It was so deeply human. I can’t recommend it enough.

we had the great opportunity to see 5 shows while we were in NYC and without a doubt Curious was the must see choice. If you can only do one show this would be my choice, the story was amazing and the adaptation was truly a work of art. all of the acting was exceptional and engaging. And be sure not to leave when you think it is over…

I keep telling myself not to cry but I CAN’TTT.
Before Broadway, I could never imagine what Curious Incident would be like if it were a play. And after Broadway, I still can’t get over how brilliant and creative the production team is. The VISUAL EFFECTS will blow your mind! You will look at the stage background, the stage floor, even UNDER THE STAGE. I love it when my money is well-​spent.
Curious Incident is based on a 2003 fiction novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. The novel was awarded with many prizes, including a Children’s Fiction award, but don’t you think Curious Incident is written for 10-​year-​old children. If you have read the book, you will realize that this novel is so powerful that it should be meant for a more matured audience. Curious Incident touches the matters of crime, psychology, family, children, education, and even community. The book was written from the perspective of Christopher, a 15-​year-​old boy in England, who is implied to have Asperger’s. Despite clumsy social communicating skills, Christopher is determined to be a detective. The book/​play is his journey on finding out what happened to a dog. I can’t spoil, so you have to read/​see Curious Incident to know what Christopher has found, but he may have had found out more than he questioned.
I read the book more than 5 years ago. I thought I already forgot most details. But as I start sobbing 10 minutes into the play, I realize how much influence Curious Incident has had over me. I had a small Kleenex in my bag for 2 years, and watching Curious Incident was the finally the time when I could use some. It is a deadpan play that provokes such fragile emotions that I cannot smother.
Tip: Don’t leave yet when the cast says goodbye. Confetti will come to the ones who wait.

Excellent! This show is extremely well put together and I was incredibly impressed. I don’t want to give too much away but this show is highly recommended. I’m usually not a fan of plays that aren’t musicals but this is unlike any I’ve seen. The main actor does a great job portraying Chistopher Boone, which I imagine is not easy. It was very similar to the book but by the end there were some differences. I would love to see it again!

To fully illustrate how deeply moved I was about this «masterfully-​crafted», «must see», «do not do yourself the disservice of missing» piece of artwork, please note:
— I do not give 5-​star reviews easily.
— As a professional theater artist who is blessed to routinely see many shows, it is very difficult for me to forget my training, stop dissecting what I’m watching, and «get lost» in a performance, let alone give a standing ovation.
— As the uncle of two child on the Autism spectrum, and a teacher trained in Special Education, I can be overly critical and sensitive when it comes to the artistic portrayal of such children and their families/​networks.
CURIOUS earned every 5-​star review you see here, and every award they have claimed. Hands. Down.
I was blissfully lost in their world within the first few moments of the show, and was on the edge of my seat right up to the point where I stood up and cheered. The love, honor, compassion, truth, and daring rawness they give to all of these characters deserves grand applause, and massive kudos.
I was so moved and thankful for this production, that I kept waking up all night thinking about it.
I want to see it again and again.
Run. See it. Hopefully, you will love it as much as so many others.

Up until this show, my top 5 favorite Broadway shows were:
1. Book of Mormon
2. Billy Elliot
3. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
4. An American in Paris
5. Once
And it was like that for a very long time. However, after seeing this show, a new number one was crowned for sure. It was such a touching story with some incredibly intense scenes and some incredibly funny ones as well. I was not expecting that much technology for a Broadway play and I was absolutely blown away. There are very few props which keeps the entire show very human and really touches all of your different senses. It’s a show that everyone must see because it’s truly a work of art. If you are in New York City and you can only see one show, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed if you watch The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
Fantastic.

This was an absolutely incredible show. From the acting to the use of the stage, it is obvious that every part of this production was thought through and executed very well.
The lead, Tyler Lea, was phenomenal. It was not an easy role, but he was fabulous. The supporting case was great as well.
The story was something different and kept me engaged for the two and a half hour show.
The set was super high tech and impressive. The main character draws a lot in chalk on the floor, and it shows up on all of the walls of the set. There are other cool things they do with the set that make you wonder why other shows don’t do the same.
We got an orchestra ticket for about $ 100, which isn’t too bad. I am thrilled to have seen this show – fantastic all around. Go see it.

This is an amazing show, like nothing we have seen on broadway in a very long time!
I don’t want to give away the plot, but wow! The staging was outstanding. The choreography was terrific, and it wasn’t a show with «dancing» per se but WOW!
The acting, especially Tyler Lea, was outstanding! The amount of mental and physical work that went his performance must have been huge!!!
The story was great (I didn’t read the book) and the characters were played with a lot of heart.
I would highly recommend!

This play topped my list of Broadway experiences. It was a multi-​sensory experience unlike anything I’ve seen before. The stage is essentially a blackbox theater with limited props, but it comes to life with lighting and sound in a very creative way. You feel transported to different locations, it’s no wonder this play is a winner of several Tony Awards.
The choreography is also really impressive. The production uses every inch of space in surprising ways throughout the play, along with the choreographed sequences that you just have to see in person.
It’s a heart gripping story with excellent acting and a really unique plot. The theater itself if intimate and helps you feel very connected to the characters throughout the show. Highly recommended!

I do not want to give a lot of the plot away but even if you have never read the book, this production is well worth your while. It was excellent but sad. As a protagonist who happens to intellectually function on the Autism spectrum, my heart bled for Christopher, because in addition to being in a specialized school, not being able to sit for A-​levels (like every other high school student in England) and having a multitude of life-​limiting Asperger symptoms, he is being raised solely by his father, his mother is dead and he wishes that his favorite teacher would take him in.
Christopher cannot understand or recognize emotion in others, be physically touched, speak to strangers or tolerate crowds while he experiences sensory overload from lights, signs and noises — all of which prevent him from functioning independently. The teenage years are hard in general and as one afflicted with Asperger’s Christopher cannot do much of anything without the help of his father and teacher. At one point during the second act, both his father and teacher are screaming helpful advice to him from the orchestra and mezzanine as he tries to make it through the big bad world on his own.
You are going to cry, at least a little bit, but what makes this production special is that it evokes a panoply of emotions without ever overstaying it’s welcome. The writing is sharp, the scene changes swift and although the amount of stage choreography (movement, dancing, running) can be dizzying, it all adds to the story. The performances were stunning, not just the leads but the more than half dozen actors who comprise the various neighbors, London folk, other teachers and ancillary characters, were excellent in their physicality, accents and tone.
If you have even slight epileptic leanings, be aware that the Tron-​like stage shifts, has flashing lights and a multitude of drawers, doors and secret openings meant to represent a range of settings. The stage is a cross-​section of a world often seen in old Atari games but it is not a mere show of money or ingenuity, the stage is a good landscape on which to paint Christopher’s thought processes. Given what I know now, I would see the play again, but I would just prepare myself for the wealth of emotion that accompanies the story.

If you’ve read the book, please watch this play. If you haven’t read the book, please watch this play. Please just watch this play already! While I’ve only been to a handful of plays on and off Broadway, I can say with certainty that Curious Incident is unlike anything you’ve seen before. I honestly had some hesitancy coming in, unsure of how it would translate on stage, but the brilliance of the actors and the production staff do complete justice to Mark Haddon’s novel… and then some. I don’t want to get into any specifics, because you should really just come and see it for yourself, but the experience is a wondrous, awe-​inspiring delight and a deliriously delicious bombardment of the senses.
Tyler Lea, who plays Christopher, is simply amazing. He captures all of Christopher’s idiosyncrasies and mannerisms from the novel, and still finds a way to make the character his own. It’s a complete testament to the ability of this brilliant young actor. The unsung heroes of play are the production staff. The amount of work going into the technical side of the show is huge and stage itself is a feat in engineering. Combined with all the lighting and sounds, it creates a sensory overload at times, but that’s exactly the point — to allow the audience entry into Christopher’s perspective. Just bonkers.
I was able to pick up rear mezzanine for about $ 85 a piece (and I’m sure you can find even cheaper on TKTS). The seating layout of The Ethyl Barrymore Theater very audience friendly, so you should be able to clearly see the stage and all the visuals from nearly any seat in the place. So please do yourself a favor come for the show. I promise you, it will not disappoint.
And yes, please listen to my fellow Unilocalers and stick around after the curtain call. It’s geek-​tacular.

Excellent play! I am not a theater junkie by any means, but I was blown away by the performances, especially the son’s and the father’s, as well as the level of detail and thought that went into crafting such an amazing set (two words: escalator scene). I admit that I teared up during more than one scene. The characters feel real, with sharp edges and imperfect thoughts and actions, and the yearning to explain yourself, and to be heard and understood, is almost palpable. I suggest snagging the center mezzanine seats if you can — at some points, the play is acted out from different spots scattered throughout the theater, and you get to take in that much more detail without having to crane your head around too much.
Another piece of advice: Try not to spoil yourself as to the plot. I never read the book and eschewed all Internet spoilers, knowing only that the story involved a dog at night. I liked how the mystery of the dog actually sparked its own mystery (ahem, can’t give away too much).
As other people have mentioned, I am not sure how appropriate this play is for children. At times, the music and special effects reach loud, flashing, heart-​jarring levels, in order to convey how confusing and disorienting the world is to the main character, but a child might get freaked out.
And, of course, stay after curtain call. Nice flashback to my high school calculus days.

Great show with a really very talented cast. The stage design was just so neat and played with the story line so incredibly well. I also love how they alluded to an «extra scene» in the middle of the play and then actually had one after the closing credits! I didn’t actually read the book so wasn’t sure what to expect from the plot line. but was pleasantly surprised that it kept my attention through the entire length of the play!

Interested by purely the title, I snagged rush tickets with a friend to experience this show. I’ve seen 30+ Broadway shows, and this play is definitely unlike any other. I sat in a «prime number» seat, which was a very cute addition. (I could not manage to get a prime number out of either my friend or my name, so we did not get the button, but even the sheet of paper was a cute read. If anyone sitting near you has it, I would suggest to ask to read the sheet!)
The set is interesting. At parts I loved it, but at parts, it was extremely tacky. I understand part of it was to introduce the concept of chaos within an autistic mind, but I felt as if there were better ways to convey it than blaring neon signs from everywhere.
Stay until the very. Very. End.
Alex Sharp does a great job as Christopher, but it is over the top at times.

Curious Incident is an all-​around beautiful production! The Tony for Best Play was well-​deserved. I was already a hug fan of the story because I love the book! The play stayed true to the book and included all of the important points, which is so rare. It was certainly a serious play that made the audience emotional several times. However, the writers worked in the perfect amount of comic relief and witty lines to balance it out. There were times that I wanted to cry and other times I was laughing hysterically.
The show was perfectly cast! I did not get to see Alex Sharp as Christopher, but Taylor Trensch did a phenomenal job! His attention to detail and passion for the role was truly moving. Ian Barford did an amazing job as Christopher’s father.
The sets and lighting were extremely unique and memorable. The special effects were so high-​tech! I can’t even imagine how much time and money went into the show. It is easy to see why it won the Tony for both Lighting and Set Design.
It should be noted that this play is not for everyone. If you’re not a huge fan of Broadway shows that don’t have musical numbers, or if you have a short attention span, I wouldn’t recommend this play. However, if you appreciate a good drama, this is a must-​see! This play is also not appropriate or entertaining for children. There is some mature dialogue and subject matter.
Be sure to stay after curtain call! It will warm your heart.

I’m hesitant to write this review, because I think everyone should go into this experience blindly. It’s mind-​blowingly good. I’ve been to a lot of Broadway shows, and this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. In the best kind of way. So I will provide a few notes, if the five stars isn’t enough to persuade you to go see this ASAP.
–I read this book growing up and held off on seeing the play for quite a while — I had a hard time believing that Broadway’s interpretation would do the book justice. I was wrong. It’s impossible to say whether one is better than the other. What I can say, however, is that the Broadway production provokes a far more visceral response in the viewer/​reader than the book can. It’s just the nature of theater. Being able to put a visual to the words those of us have read in the book is just incredibly powerful when attempting to depict something as multifaceted and heart-​wrenching as autism. To see it performed in such a raw way is unbelievably moving.
–The production elements of this show are just as evocative as the acting by the brilliant Alex Sharp. They’re minimalist yet high-​tech. The movement, the lighting, the props… all of it augments the emotional response you’ll almost certainly be having to this story. It gives the viewer a lens of exceptional depth into the mind of someone with autism.
–Be aware: Some of the lighting/​sound combos can be assaulting to the senses — this is intentional and necessary (in my opinion), but it’s important to be aware of this if you or someone you’re planning to go with is prone to aversive reactions to such things.
–DO NOT LEAVE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE SHOW ENDS. YOU WON’T BE SORRY.
–This play is beautiful. I’d see it again. And again. I’d pay full price to get the best seats in the house if I had the chance. I don’t say this often.

I was really skeptical about seeing this show on Broadway, but it was worth every penny! From the acting to the tech, I believe this show truly deserved the Tony Award for Best Play. I also got the honor of sitting in a prime numbered seat, so I got a play-​themed button during intermission!
I felt the portrayal of the main character as an autistic teenager was very realistic and empathic. Although I found the characters difficult to relate to at first, they grew on me as the play progressed. By the end of the show, I was really rooting for Christopher. However, my favorite part was definitely the play was definitely the tech and I don’t say that very often. The director did an amazing job with the lights and set up of the stage. I don’t know when this show is closing, but if you have a chance, see it ASAP. It is unlike anything I that I have EVER seen on Broadway.