Latest Thalian Hall performance explores mind of an English teen

In his 2003 novel "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," Mark Haddon deliberately avoids telling us about his protagonist's unusual brain except to affirm its singular brilliance and, his word, differentness.

And so it is with Simon Stephens' stage adaptation telling the story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone, now on stage in the Stein Studio Theatre at Thalian Hall through Sunday.

Neither novelist nor playwright says that Christopher (Campbell Idol) is a functioning autistic person. He attends school, excelling at mathematics. He cares for his pet rat, Toby. He cares about many things in life, including the incident that sets Christopher off on an odyssey – the midnight murder of his neighbor's dog by pitchfork.

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As much as Christopher dreams of becoming an astronaut and excels at a mathematical understanding of the universe, his neurology hides much from him. He has difficulty deciphering other people's expressions and intentions. In fact, he may have good reason to distrust those in his immediate circle, never mind strangers.

Campbell's performance as Christopher is impressive. Whatever choices he and director Gina Gambony made in portraying an autistic teen avoid over-the-top fidgets and ticks. In other words, Campbell isn't trying to convince us of the character's differentness, and therein lies the effectiveness of his performance.

Christopher tells us about his investigation into the death of the neighbor's dog through a journal he keeps. Siobhan (Anna Gamel Huber), his teacher, reads from the journal, serving as the play's narrator. In her winsome Irish accent, Huber draws us into Christopher's world, nurturing him and broadening our understanding of his challenges and brilliance.

The other adults in Christopher's life exhibit a vivid and troubling mixture of frailties. Set in the English town of Swindon, the boy lives with his father, Ed (Lee Lowrimore), who tells his son his mother Judy (Eleanor Stafford) has died and forbids any pursuit of the dog's murderer. The truth is far more complex and leads to startling revelations for Christopher and the audience.

Lowrimore and Stafford, two Wilmington theatre stalwarts, each bring the shadowy parts of their characters to light, exploring every cranny of their anger, confusion, anxiety, and ultimately their affection for Christopher.

The play's multiple secondary but essential roles are played well by Lizzie Briasco, James Bowling, Chase Harrison, Timothy Manley, Julia Petersen, and Krista Leigh Rivenbark.

The combination of lighting and set design by Cole Marquis and Donna Troy open up the stage, making the production as much of an immersive experience as one can have in the Stein Theatre. What the creative team accomplished symbolically is put us in Christopher's head, with all the wonder and sudden terror he encounters on his quest.

Aside from a briefly nervous opening-night start, Big Dawg made its case for "The Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" as another not-to-be-missed show.

Want to go?

What: Big Dawg Productions' "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."

When: 7:30 p.m. July 26-30, 3 p.m. July 31

Where: Thalian Hall's Ruth and Bucky Stein Studio Theatre, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington.

Tickets: $34.24

Information: 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Latest Thalian Hall performance explores mind of an English teen