Every Brilliant Thing

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Every Brilliant Thing

Playwright/s – Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe

Production Company/Theatre Space – Professional, Burnt Thicket Theatre, Rosebud Studio Stage.

Length – One act 85 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 throughout her life.

Why this play? Why now? – It falls within the mandate of the company, and the subject is contemporary and universal.

Curiosities – Why rob the audience of the possibility of leaving the show thinking about their brilliant things? Why can’t we stay with the residue of the art after the performance? Must we always jump into the socio-political health issues curtain call. Being extolled to take action is anathema to this genre; it isn’t agitprop. The program has printed eight help line numbers and a three-part instructional plan. And I wondered, as I do often, if the audience warnings of “mature themes including depression, self-harm, and suicide” be given at the point of purchase rather than in the program and posted outside the theatre? Why treat the show as a precursor to a lecture. Why do theatre companies feel that audiences need to be mollycoddled?

Notable Moment – Sam’s proposal.

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 – Elizabeth Nepjuk as the storyteller is sweet and energetic as a seven-year-old girl and exuberant and thoughtful as an adult. She has been touring with this show for a while so she is very comfortable with the material and manages the audience participation beautifully

Notable design/Production – Scenic co-designers Stephen Waldschmidt and Tim Bratton give this the play a clean set with only a case and a record player. Since the set is so stripped down, I wondered why it took two designers?

Notable direction – Stephan Waldschmidt, who studied theology and fine arts after getting his BFA from the U of C, has directed for Rosebud on three previous occasions. He knows his audience well. He is adept at keeping things moving because directing in the round he must ensure that all sides connect with the material.

One reason to see this show –         1. The beautiful drive through the summer prairies

2. The charming Elizabeth Nepjuk

3. Supper after the show at Rosebud