Acton Players to stage mystery-filled ‘Curious Incident’

One simple query — “Who killed Wellington?” — raises dozens of more complex questions in the Acton Players’ upcoming production.

Director Michael Jay asks: What happens when your current life turns out to be a lie? Would your convictions force you to make a change, or would you let the pressure keep you from the truth? 

These, he says, are the “deeply human” questions posed in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” opening February 13. 

“This is a story about autism, about a kid with autism, but it’s also not,” he said. “It’s also just a story about a person overcoming the thing that is hardest for them to overcome because they have to in order to do what is right.”

The Acton Players will bring the story of Christopher, a 15-year-old who loves outer space, math, books, and his pet rat Toby, to life in their upcoming production. The tale is packed with mystery, self-discovery, and triumph. It will be Jay’s first time in the director’s chair for the Players. 

Connecting to character 

Included in the cast are Finian Ross of Brighton as Christopher and John Small of Acton as one of Christopher’s internal voices, along with other roles. 

This will be Ross’ first appearance with the Acton Players. He is excited to portray Christopher because he himself has autism. 

“To look at that kind of character and be like, ‘I relate to you,’ and see someone who thinks like you go through this hero’s journey, feels amazing,” said Ross, 26, explaining that he hopes his familiarity with Christopher’s struggles better conveys the character to the audience. “This is a fun script that I think someone unfamiliar with autism, or even unfamiliar with theater, can enjoy.”

Small, a longtime Acton Players cast member, also has a personal connection, having two family members with autism. 

“It helps me understand Christopher in a way that others in the audience may not,” he said. “I hope through the play, some get that understanding too.” 

Strikingly, “the word ‘autism’ is never mentioned in the story,” Small said. 

The dog in the night-time

Based on Mark Haddon’s 2003 novel, Christopher’s story kicks off when he discovers his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, dead in the garden. A fan of Sherlock Holmes, the boy takes on the mystery, determined to find the culprit, despite his father’s resistance. Through his investigation, Christopher uncovers family secrets that send him on an unlikely quest. 

Along his journey, Christopher is trying to navigate a London train station on his own; Small, as a train security officer, encounters him. 

“I’m tired. I’ve had a long day,” he said, describing how he imagines this officer. “This young man comes along, and it is rather challenging for me. We have a short but pretty intense scene together that’s pretty exciting.” 

The officer attempts to grab Christopher, who, averse to touch, reacts violently. The scene helps demonstrate the challenges Christopher faces, which are escalated on his journey. 

Larger productions of the show often feature unique lighting to portray his sensory overload and other challenges. 

“There is a lot of technicality in the original conceptions of the production. It’s a lot of light, sound projections,” Jay said. “For us, it’s a lot of props work and movement choreography, a lot of logistics and timing” to depict Christopher’s often chaotic world. 

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” will be presented at 51 Walden Street Performing Arts Center, February 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 8 p.m. and February 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit concordplayers.org or call (978) 369-2990.