For its spring production the Ponca Playhouse has chosen an emotional rollercoaster in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens, this play tells the story of a young man, Christopher Boone, who views the world very differently from most people. A brilliant teenage mathematician in Swindon, UK, Christopher struggles to interpret people and navigate social interactions, as well as some daily tasks. This may be due to a possible diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome (as described by the novel’s author, Mark Haddon), but I believe what audiences will find more compelling than that diagnosis is how closely they can relate to much of what Christopher experiences. No spoiler, the show opens with “a dead dog with a garden fork sticking out of it” and the mystery of who killed the dog, and why, becomes Christopher’s project, much to his father’s consternation. In many ways this is a normal teenage boy… he loves his pet rat, plays video games, dreams of being an astronaut… but the complexity of daily life and of people provides a constant challenge both to Christopher and to the other main characters, who all experience ups and downs as the mystery unfolds. Some moments are hard to watch, and it should be noted that quite a bit of strong language is included in the script but the end result is a deeply human and touching story. Director Sam Stuart shared with me that she hoped audiences would take away a sense everyone has dreams and value, and that nobody should ever be defined or limited by their differences. I certainly feel that comes through in the production. Ms. Stuart always delivers a powerful show and this one is no exception.

Portraying Christopher with heartbreaking honesty and precision is Kaden Swords, a fairly new face to the Playhouse but one I hope will return again and again. This young man completely inhabits the role with a depth of emotion that is mesmerizing to watch. From the first scenes the nervous energy he exhibits is almost contagious, drawing the viewer into the rhythm of the story and into the character’s experience. Perfectly directed by Ms. Stuart, Kaden builds emotional layers that swell and ebb; when he is frantic I felt my own heart race. When he is still, and he does achieve remarkable stillness, I found myself holding my breath. Kaden is just 16 years old and I can’t wait to see what else he does in the coming years.

In stark contrast to Christopher’s withdrawn personality is his deceased mother Judy, whom Christopher sees in memories as he tells his story. Jennie Hinterreiter is once again cast to utter perfection in this role and Judy’s bubbly, effusive personality seems to come effortlessly to her. Ms. Hinterreiter’s luminous performance is at once tender and fraught, playful, almost childlike in moments, and beautifully human when we learn of Judy’s faults and failings. Enhancing all of this is a gorgeous lighting design by Chad Anderson that makes Ms. Hinterreiter practically glow in exactly the right moments.

Another newcomer to the Playhouse stage is Christopher Radaker-James who plays the beleaguered father, Ed Boone. Struggling with the challenges of parenting a neuro-divergent child, Mr. Radaker-James is humorous and affable, gently caring for his son and yet so tightly coiled that we feel his frustration. This man is a pot about to boil over, and when he finally does the moment is both shocking and again extremely honest.

Rounding out the cast is Marlys Cervantes as Christopher’s teacher, Siobhan, who shares the story when Christopher cannot (from the book he is writing about his investigation), encourages him and calms him in moments of stress. Ms. Cervantes strikes a note of balance with her performances that is greatly needed in the midst of the turbulent events. She is joined by six “Voices” who remain onstage almost continuously and seem to bear witness to the events along with the audience. These actors very capably provided the rest of the many characters Christopher encounters, such as the neighbor Mrs. Alexander (Taryn Pruett), a policeman (Blake Brown), the owner of the dog, Mrs. Shears (Deanna Hinshaw), Mr. Shears (Ryan Brown), the Reverend Peters (J.P. Mays) and another neighbor and observer (Shelby Baker). All of these actors play multiple small characters as well but it was their reactions to the main action of the play that I found compelling. In their faces I saw the humor, interest, shock, sadness, anger, and joy that the audience will feel, and which I think we often miss in these days of facemasks which (while so very necessary) rob us of seeing people’s expressions. Of particular note for me was the work of J.P. Mays, who brought each new character to life with a specific accent and distinct mannerisms, coupled with such subtle and believable acting that was just a joy to watch. All the actors also participate in one of my favorite moments in the show as a faceless crowd moving through a busy train station with rolling bags and cases while a constant stream of typical announcements plays overhead. With Ms. Stuart’s always precise direction, the scene was almost balletic in its movement and imparted a very real sensory overload that drew me into Christopher’s feelings.

Supporting the cast are the usual wealth of volunteers that the Playhouse is so lucky to enjoy. Sam Stuart has designed a simple but powerful set with painted clock numbers on the floor, Kat Long delivered contemporary costumes and Blake Brown designed props. Chad Anderson’s lighting design is enhanced by new colored LED lights and even some moving lights that add a special touch, and the lush sound design by Todd Stuart brilliantly layers ambient noises that add a quality you must hear to appreciate. They are assisted by Kyla Radaker-James as Stage Manager, Chris Schelp as Assistant Stage Manager, and Austin Nephew and Caroline Buck-Homier as running crew. Together, the actors and crew have once again created a production the Playhouse can be proud of.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time opens this Friday, March 12 and runs Friday through Sunday for two weekends. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available at www.poncaplayhouse.com or by calling the Box Office at 580-765-5360. Limited seating is available due to Covid-19 precautions and all patrons are asked to wear facemasks for the duration of the show. A streaming option is also available by special purchase on Saturday, March 20th.