West Liberty University’s Hilltop Players close the academic year with a production of the 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”
Daniel White playing Christopher is shown in the foreground, Calian Byard playing his father is shown behind him in this rehearsal scene.
The highly rated contemporary play features the work of three graduating seniors, Odessa Hores of Wellsburg, W.Va., Daniel White of New Manchester, W.Va, and Calian Byard of Bridgeport, W.Va. and takes place in Kelly Theatre.
“This adaptation by playwright Simon Stephens is funny and moving. It will delight audiences and we hope that many students, staff and members of the public will join us as we applaud our students in this quality play,” said Michael Aulick, WLU’s director of theater.
“One of the things that we celebrate with this production is the graduation of three of our students. They are using the show as their capstone projects. Odessa serves as the assistant director, Daniel is playing the role of Christopher Boone and Calian is playing the role of Edward Boone. These three seniors have done a ton for this program, and I would love for people to come out and see their final performance.”
In the play, 15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain and is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers.
Now it is seven minutes after midnight, and he stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime.
But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world.
Based on a 2003 mystery novel by British writer Mark Haddon), the play was called “A beautiful, eloquent, dazzlingly inventive show about the wonders of life,” by the Evening Standard (London).
Curtain time is 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 27 – 29 and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 30. There also is a sensory friendly performance at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 1. Tickets are available at wlucurious.brownpapertickets.com. The box office opens one hour prior to showtimes.
For more information on the Department of Music and Theater, please visit the College of Liberal and Creative Arts website or call 304-336-8006. For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB or visit westliberty.edu.
