The Curious Incident

Almost a year ago Karly and I put "go to a show" on our Washington bucket list and this weekend we finally made that dream a reality!

Karly’s Grandma loves taking her family to the theater and when she heard about our plans, offered to join us and make a day of it. Since the Cornelison’s are theater connoisseurs, we wanted to wait until something came out at the Paramount that was new for all of us. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time,” a play based on the novel about a teenage boy with Asperger’s syndrome who discovers a murdered poodle on a neighbor’s lawn, was the perfect pick because not only was it a book all of us have read, but the incredibly innovative set made it feel like something completely new.

How gorgeous is the Paramount?? My favorite part of the play was the collective gasp of the audience when a real live puppy was brought on stage!

The production did an incredible job of demonstrating the confusion and sensory overload Christopher Boone experiences. As Christopher hunts down the culprit, he is simultaneously navigating his own unique challenges of understanding human emotions.

The video and lighting effects created a video-game feel that demonstrated the distance between the audience and Christopher. In moments of crisis the box-like set lit up with video projections, sound boomed across the audience, and the lights flashed to the point of extreme comfort. The set both separated the audience from Christopher’s algorithmic mind and connected us to his unique experience.

Post show almond milk chai at Monorail Espresso. I love the look of old city buildings. Seattle, you are a wonderful city. Many thanks to the Cornelison ladies for a perfect day.

10/10 would recommend. And if you haven’t read the book, it is also a great read!