Every Brilliant Thing

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Every Brilliant Thing

Playwright/s – Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe

Production Company/Theatre space – Verb Theatre, Joyce Doolittle Theatre, Pumphouse Theatres

Length – One act 90 minutes (no intermission)

Genre/s – Drama

Premise – A woman shares the story of what it was like to grow up with a mentally unwell mother and how she coped by coming up with a list of brilliant things that she continued adding to though out her life.

Why this play? Why now? – One person shows are inexpensive, and the issue is contemporary and universal.

Curiosities – I wondered what kind of stories the show will have after it’s run with different performances by audience members.

Notable Moment – The sock puppet lady was very flexible!

Notable writing – MacMillan and Donahoe have created a very nimble and produceable script. As long as the play is well cast (as this is) it should make for a delightful evening. Donahoe performed this role in over 400 performances across four continents which I’m sure helped buff this gem of a show until it was brilliant.

Notable performances – Part of what makes Karen Johnson-Diamond’s performance so divine is her facility with improv. Johnson-Diamond was one of the founders of Calgary’s long-running improvisational companies Dirty Laundry. Her acting skills are great, but she really shines when she improvises with the audience. The audience members play the rest of the cast. This works especially well when they are sincere and take guidance not turning the moment into, “My chance to act!”

Notable design/Production – Minimal, presented in the cozy theatre with a three-quarter configuration ensures the audience is wrapped around the story.

Notable direction – Katheryn Smith, the Artistic Director of Verb Theatre, has provided Johnson-Diamond with a firm foundation for this semi-improvised show.

One reason to see this show –         

1. Karen Johnson Diamond

2. Laughter

3. Poignant moments

4.   ….