Mystery and Mathematics Collide in *The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Friday, June 1

Fifteen-year-old Christopher is a math whiz who decides to become an amateur detective when his neighbor's dog dies under strange circumstances. His subsequent sleuthing leads to some uncomfortable truths about his family, a journey to London, a University entrance exam, and several tense confrontations with loved ones. As the story progresses, you'll soon learn that Christopher lives with an  autism spectrum condition, which the play explores thoughtfully through his often-troubled interactions with the world.

When British novelist Mark Haddon released The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in 2003, it was praised by the British Medical Association for avoiding "the opposing pitfalls of either offending people with autism ... or turning Christopher into an object of pity." When playwright Simon Stephens brought it to the stage a decade later, it won five Tony awards. And for six nights at the start of June, the production will come to Erie.

Incident will open on June 1 to a sold-out audience at the Renaissance Centre on State Street. It's the latest production from Dramashop, one of Erie's most innovative grassroots theater companies. Expect the contemporary flair and DIY ethos that the organization is known for. If you're looking for an empathetic take on adolescent mental health, this might be the play for you. If you're simply looking for a fun, twisty mystery, Incident delivers on that accord as well. — Dan Schank

Fridays and Saturdays June 1 through June 16, 8 p.m. // 1001 State Street, Suite 210 // $5 to $12 depending on date // dramashop.org