Revue
"The world — one in which Christopher makes more sense than the confusing circumstances he must navigate — is created through tremendously imaginative staging. Designed by Justin Thomas, a raised false thrust stage like a catwalk surrounded on either side with benches made of cubbies (and other clever nooks and crannies) creates malleable space where actors play infinite roles and astonishing props (Savannah Draper) emerge. It transforms the space with the central narrative of the book Christopher is writing about exploring, the curious incident of the dead dog, and allows shifts in time to scenes from the past and fantasies and reveries. It even transforms the way Christopher experiences conversations and events, aided by Jason Frink’s lighting design and Justin Thomas’s projections, as well as sound by Alex Tobin and original compositions by Antonio L. Mitchell II."
- Marin Heinritz
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Encore Michigan
"This is a show where the technical aspects aren’t just a nice backdrop to help create the illusion of the story. They are an essential part to making it work. Even the most legendary of acting performances could not tell this story without the technical overlay that infuses every moment. From LED lighting on the floor to projections, to the overwhelming sounds that Christopher hears in his head, every member of the technical team, led by technical director Gunnar Schmidt, is essential.
Justin Thomas, who is in charge of scenic design and projections, built a set that looks deceptively simple. It is anything but. While the touring production of this show had huge spaces to work with, Farmer’s Alley is an intimate stage. Thomas had minimal room on a thrust stage to build a set that could easily become a flat, a classroom, a train station, a garden, and even outer space."
-Bridgette Redman
WMUK
"The lighting, sound design, original music, and other technical elements create stunning spectacles and soundscapes that evoke a walk in space, a subway ride, or an oncoming train. While these elements suggest stimuli that are often too much for Christopher, the audience never feels threatened or overwhelmed."
-Gordon Bolar