"Even if we didn't get your typical "final performance", we got an amazing learning process that I'm really grateful for ...theatre can adapt and be adapted no matter what's happening in the world."
-Elliot Colahan, cast member, The Curious Incident Project
The Rowan University Department of Theatre & Dance just rounded out the first production of our mainstage season: The Curious Incident Project. Directed by Dr. Elizabeth Hostetter, this show was nothing short of a unique process. Here to talk about his perspective acting in the project is Elliot Colahan [he/him]: a sophomore theatre major with concentrations in musical theatre, acting, theatre education, and a minor in education.
"Fifteen-year-old math whiz Christopher Boone lives with his divorced dad in Swinton, a working-class town west of London. After being falsely accused of killing a neighbor’s dog, Christopher—who is brilliant but has difficulty dealing with the sounds and stresses of everyday life—decides to investigate the crime. The secrets he unearths prompt him to leave his trusted teacher and the familiar streets of his hometown for a life-changing train trip to London." -Broadway.com
Want to hear more about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime's impact on Elliot, his journey through this process, and what our project format of this production was like? Keep on reading!
Can you tell us a little bit about your part in The Curious Incident Project?
"I was cast as one of the performers in "The Curious Incident Project," where I played a bunch of different roles and characters throughout. Halfway through the process, I was given the additional responsibility of being the deputy for the project. -basically a person cast and crew members alike could come to with thoughts or problems, whether anonymously or personally. I’d then be able to share those thoughts and feelings with the director and creative team to make sure everyone felt safe and comfortable in the environment they were working in."
Can you describe your journey through the project's process amid a pandemic?
"I'm not going to sugarcoat this. There were a lot of things that could be improved. At the same time, there were a lot of things that worked really well and at the end of the day, we put on a show in a pandemic. That really says something, even if it wasn't the show we all dreamed of doing...it's the cards we were dealt and we were able to power through it, which is a really wonderful thing.
We didn't do the full show, that needs to be addressed first of all. It's "The Curious Incident Project" because it really was a learning experience. We learned about autism, the show and its history, performing in a pandemic, making connections/acting with people when you can't see half of their face - they're six feet away from you and you can't actually look at them when you're talking because of safety precautions. Even if we didn't get your typical "final performance", we got an amazing learning process that I'm really grateful for...it goes to show that theatre can adapt and be adapted no matter what's happening in the world."
What was it about this work that resonated with you during your first read-through?
"There was a lot. It was the type of thing where I didn't realize quite how much resonated with me the first time I read it. It was only after diving into the story where I was like, "Oh, this explains a lot!" I saw a lot of myself in Christopher. A lot of how his brain works, how he interacts with his parents, his friends, his teacher, and the way he interacts with his world. Obviously it was not perfect parallels because every person in the universe is different, but there were a lot of boxes being checked for me reading that story."
When we were working on this project together, there was something else you told me about how unpacking Christopher, "explains a lot." Do you want to elaborate on how you connected with him outside of this rehearsal process?
"Absolutely! I am on the autism spectrum, but I didn't know that until a few weeks ago, honestly. It wasn't until we were in the midst of rehearsals, working in the play, and meeting all of these people who are on the autism spectrum, who are working with people on the autism spectrum, and doing our research on the autism spectrum that I came to the realization of, "Wow, there are a lot of boxes being checked." Yes, everyone can resonate with Christopher and his parents; there are parts of them that you can find in yourself no matter who you are. But there were a lot of things falling into place for me to the point where I realized I needed to figure some stuff out. I was at home for the weekend to visit my parents and older sibling and we came to the conclusion that I am on the autism spectrum, and that my older sister is too. And it was a big relief. It wasn't the type of thing where I thought, "Oh God, what do we do with this?" It was like, "Wow. I feel so much better." Obviously that changed my perspective on the play and Christopher himself because instead of simply resonating with what he is going through, I think, "Wow, that's me. Not 100%, but that's me."
The author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Mark Haddon, often said, "The novel is not about disability, but about difference." Did knowing this affect your take acting in the play?
"I think so... our director (Dr. Elizabeth Hostetter) shared that with us. That quote in particular really stuck in my brain. Whether I ended up applying it or not, I'm not entirely sure, but it's something I feel very strongly about. It's powerful and it's something I want to keep remembering in my life. You never know what storm someone is weathering, what's going on in their brain, or how it works. I think it is a story about difference; it's not a story about disability. Yes, technically Christopher could be considered disabled because he is on the spectrum, but he is still able to do everything any other person could do. He just does it differently, and I think that's a beautiful thing."
In our project format roles were cast by the scene, as opposed to the play in its entirety. What was it like to play multiple roles in the same play?
"It was cool, but it was weird! It's so funny because when you think "The cast list is going up!" you expect two lines of text: One with your name and one with the character's name. We got two lines of text, but it was our first names and last names; there were no characters anywhere on that list. We were all like "What is happening??" Dr. Liz decided that she wanted our input on the characters we wanted to play and learn about, and I was fortunate enough to play the characters I wanted to be "cast" as. Knowing you're going to get (kind of) what you want is very different and special, but you don't necessarily get to learn everything you want to about the character. I would have absolutely loved to dive into Christopher in every single one of these scenes, to learn all about his arc, to figure out exactly how he goes from one scene into the next, and I didn't get that."
How has working on The Curious Incident Project impacted you academically?
"It had a big impact on my overall goal in college, which is kind of crazy to think about. This show made me completely change my life goal, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Going into "The Curious Incident Project" I had plans of four years of college for theatre and then probably go into performing, and maybe getting a Master's in teaching at some point. I'd always wanted to work as a teacher, I just wasn't sure when and in what capacity. But after getting to have our research days and talking to people who work with children/adults on the spectrum, I realized I want to go into Special Education. Specifically, in theatre, there are so many opportunities to create sensory-friendly performances and shows where people with ASD can be represented in good, positive lights. I think it's an important opportunity that theatre artists need to grab by the reins and do something with."
Is there anything else you'd like to say to those reading this interview?
"If there's anything The Curious Incident Project taught me, it's that you do need to dive inside yourself sometimes. Coming to the realization I'm on the spectrum was terrifying, and this coming from someone who had kind of known in their head for years that something was going on. But accepting it in your heart is a whole different thing. That introspection changed my life in a lot of really good ways. Being able to look at yourself going, "This is where I am, and this is where my heart is telling me to go," is a terrifying thing to do, but it's really worth it. You learn a lot about yourself that way, you learn a lot about others that way, you learn a lot about your world, and I think that's a really beautiful thing."
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See you next Monday!!
Erica Gerold
Musical Theatre & Public Relations '23
(Left) Elliot Colahan, cast member of The Curious Incident Project.
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