Theatre
Every Brilliant Thing
Undercroft Café, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
It is rare to find a play that reimagines a very dark experience in a positive light without detracting from the serious discussion which the topic requires.
Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant Thing is a fantastic monologue which manages to do just that.
Dubbed “the funniest play about depression you’ll ever see” by The Guardian, I’d go as far as saying that its brilliance lies not in its very enjoyable humour but in the relatable persona of the narrator who takes us on a journey of his mother’s battle against depression from his childhood to his adult years – as seen from the eyes of a child, then a teen and finally a grown man, but always with the love of a son.
Directed wisely by Nanette Brimmer’s sharp eye for characterisation, Exit Stage Right Theatre chose to stage this production in the round at the Undercroft Café of St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Valletta. And what a wise decision that was. The place has been done up to very high standards and is airy, welcoming and perfect for intimate, small- to mid-audience-type performances. What a transformation from its former self.
The place has been done up to very high standards and is airy, welcoming and perfect for intimate, small- to mid-audience-type performances
The Undercroft Café could almost be considered an example of how the setting is a metaphor for the subject matter the play deals with – the transformation of the self and growth in personal understanding, which the narrator goes through in the process of writing his list. Because this is the premise of Every Brilliant Thing – a list of brilliant things started by a little boy to remind his mother why life is worth living.
Alan Paris gave an electrifying performance as the solo performer in this theatre piece, with his persistent monologue explaining his character’s motivations and revealing a little more about how depression affects the sufferer’s loved ones.
The Brimmer-Paris duo proved their great dynamic as director/actor in the past and this new production is yet another confirmation of how well they work together. Paris was yet again a spitfire of narration while playing his former self at various ages and in different stages of life.
He has lost none of his spark and is an incredibly talented actor – if anything, this performance has proven that he can actually outdo himself. It all revolved around the concept of creating a list which developed into a very complex and personal manifestation of what brings us joy and makes us thankful – which included the voices and contributions of thousands of people.
The performance was not only enthusiastically interpreted by Paris but also involved the audience in the most hilarious and ingenious form of participation possible – reminding us that we can all be the kind of people to encounter depression – in some way or another – through others or by coming face to face with it ourselves.
And, most importantly, that there is no shame in it. That help is just a chat or a phone call or a list away; and that life is brilliant out there – you just need to know where to look.
Every Brilliant Thing is certainly worth watching – not just for its entertainment value but also for its very enlightening message.
Every Brilliant Thing is being staged at Undercroft Café, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Valletta, today and tomorrow at 7.45pm. Tickets may be obtained at http://ticketline.com.mt .