Review: ‘Curious Incident’ brings a new theatrical experience to the HHI Arts Center

(Editor’s note: Jennifer McEwen is director of cultural affairs for the town of Hilton Head Island and is not affiliated with the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.)

The “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Simon Stephens’ acclaimed stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s bestselling mystery novel, is unlike anything experienced at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina before.

The highly stylized production follows Christopher, an autistic British teenager — a young math whiz who is suspected of killing his neighbor’s dog. When he starts his own detective work to find the dog killer, he embarks on a journey of personal discovery and development.

Christopher is authentically portrayed by Mariah Lotz, who is making their Arts Center debut in this role. Lotz brings vocal sophistication and physicality to the character. Christopher is guided through the play by his teacher, Siobhan, who also acts as the narrator for much of the story. The relationship between Siobhan and Christopher is rooted in empathy but also creates its own metaphor on stage with the juxtaposition between calm and anxiousness being mirrored between the two of them. The rest of the ensemble rounds out the story line and masterfully float in and out of the scenes with a graceful fluidity.

Directed by Whitaker Gannon, she brings a gravitas to this production that is wise beyond her years. The choreographed movement work of the cast adds a layer of storytelling paired with intricate production design. I hope to see more from Gannon as a director in years to come.

Brian C. Riley’s lighting design, Gustavo Rattia’s projection design, and Marlo Griffith’s sound design work cohesively to move the story along in an immersive way for the audience, creating moments when you feel like you are inside Christopher’s emotions — whether it be during amazed contemplations about space travel, entranced in computer games, or his personal physical discomfort.

The nonlinear timeline of the story requires the audience to pay close attention to the details, so arrive to the theatre with an open heart and open mind to be taken on a ride of the complexities of human nature.

The play opened Wednesday and runs through Feb. 20 at the Arts Center, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, S.C. For more information, visit www.artshhi.com#

This story was originally published February 4, 2022 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Review: ‘Curious Incident’ brings a new theatrical experience to the HHI Arts Center."