Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...This production is the work of a very gifted director named Marianne Elliott, who also created the first production of "War Horse," with which this show shares an emotional vocabulary and a pervasive sense of human triumph in the face of adversity. As was the case with "War Horse," "Curious Incident" has held its own against big Broadway musicals, even competing with them successfully on the canvas of heightened engagement. If planning a family outing, don't be put off that no one sings."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Fans of Mark Haddon's 2003 best-selling novel of the same name already know that the mystery behind who killed the dog is what sets off this engrossing drama. But even those familiar with Haddon's plot are bound to be impressed by playwright Simon Stephens' ingenious script adaptation and even more so by the wowing stage production of director Marianne Elliott ("War Horse"). These two British theater titans bring to vivid life the inner thoughts and everyday challenges of a likely autistic 15-year-old British boy."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...We get loud, harsh noises; bright, harsh lights; unparseable messages shooting by us; and at one point a near-literal explosion of language. Yet we're also shown the mechanisms by means of which Christopher harnesses his disability for the work at hand. More, we're allowed to empathize as his nominally normal parents do some coping of their own. The Curious Incident is to some extent a detective story, but, like all the best whodunits, its real subject is the mind of the detective."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The second-act sequence following Christopher's frantic train journey to London is as harrowing a depiction of sensory overload as is ever likely to be staged. As Christopher, Langdon can edge too close to the Dustin-Hoffman-in-Rain-Man school of autism as cutesy mannerism. But ultimately the young actor seizes a role that's strenuous, complex and not always likable, and gains and keeps our sympathy. Somehow this unlikely adaptation preserves everything that made the novel so novel."
ShowBizChicago - Highly Recommended
"...In the time that we are living in communication is more vital than ever. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is a great reminder of how important it truly is."
Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended
"...Based on a novel by Mark Haddon and directed by Marianne Elliott, who also directed “War Horse,” this story stays inside Christopher’s mind. Quite a place, that. The masterful set is itself a box, and Christopher is surely boxed in. But looked at another way, his mind is a magical puzzle chest of intricate circuitry, filled with trap doors and surprises that light up, snap shut, leap synapses and otherwise pursue Christopher’s thoughts — all of which the set reflects with surpassing beauty."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...At its best (and there is no worst), this marvelous play is fully felt from Christopher's eyes out: The Curious Incident delivers another worthy way to wonder at the world. A visceral young actor who channels everything at just the right moment and pace, Langdon kinetically registers Christopher's anguished, electrifying living-in-the-moment. A jittery mindset that initially feels chaotic and anarchic evolves magnificently: Christopher pushes beyond the false purity of prime numbers to the messy ambivalence of flawed parents and conditional love. The necessarily supporting performances are totally credible, both as actual adults and manifestations of Christopher's consciousness."
ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended
"...The play comes off as too long (at 2 hours, 30 minutes) about a person who screams and shouts and fights most of the time as folks try to help him. I eventually got bored with his flight and the loud, vivid sensory diversions seemed a tad too much. I can't get engrossed in the play as presented. I do admire the fanatic effort by Adam Langdom as Christopher whose performance is a star-making one. Maybe with cuts and a slower paced speech pattern, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time might work. (On my bus tide home, several ladies expressed their problems with this play. To them it was too long with actors talked too fast.)"
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...I was witness to one of the best theatrical experiences I have ever had! The performances were amazing! The direction outstanding! The design, choreography, technical aspects and the ensemble were sheer magic! The play, "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" is indeed a memorable experience, mind -boggling from start to finish ( and even after the curtain-call)! Yet, the best rating I can give is recommended . because it is not a play for the majority of theater-goers, even in our Theater city of Chicago."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Christopher’s attempt to cope with and solve the mystery of life, while dealing with his own special needs, is a story that grabs ahold of the audience and never lets go. Even after the curtain call, Christopher continues impressing us with a fast-paced explanation of how he solved the math equation that earned him his grade in math. This wonderful, engrossing play is like “Billy Elliot” meshed with “A Beautiful Mind.” It’s definitely one of the most amazing shows that theatergoers will likely see for a long time to come. Do not miss this production in its limited Chicago engagement!"
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Recommended
"...The role of Christopher has got to be one of the most challenging in 21st century theater. The physical and vocal demands on the performer are enormous. The touring production stars Adam Langdon (with Benjamin Wheelwright taking the part in several performances). There are doubtless many ways to interpret the role. Langdon’s Christopher is wound tight emotionally, oozing intensity and manic energy. There are no moments of reflection and many moments of hysteria. All are true to Langdon’s vision of the role, but would be interesting to see a production with a more inward Christopher, giving the boy a bit of emotional shading. I can’t speak to the authenticity of how autism is presented in this play but it seems credible and non-manipulative in its sympathy for the boy, and Langdon’s full-tilt performance certainly works."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...I loved this show for multiple reasons. The theatrical designer showcase gave me a glimpse into the mental challenges of a person with an autistic-like disability. Fascinating! I saw, heard and felt the chaotic burden from Christopher’s and his parents’ perspective. I also found the play incredibly uplifting. People were kind, patient and loving to someone who was different. The illustration of the best of humans made me weep. Lovely! Especially in this political climate, we need more inspirational art for life to imitate."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...Adam Langdon adeptly portrayed Christopher.* He was smart but also pathetic, at times cruel and needy, and entirely perfect in the role. I look forward to seeing Langdon in future roles, though it will be difficult to imagine him as anyone other than 15-year-old Christopher Boone."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...It is difficult to discern where Stephens’ fine dramatic nuances end and the work of director Marianne Elliott, choreographers Scott Graham, Steven Hoggett and the brilliant design team (sound from Ian Dickinson, lights from Paule Constable and projections from Finn Ross) begin. This outstanding play represents a cohesion of individual elements into a whole of such remarkable totality that it eclipses the parts that made it up. As a work of art unafraid of and unencumbered by technology, it is not unlike “2001: A Space Odyssey” for the modern theater."
