How often do we stop to take note of the joys of everyday life?
Duncan Macmillan’s Every Brilliant Thing is a brilliant exercise in reminding us to find the happiness in life’s little moments. On stage at The Arts Club Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre until March 8th, star Naomi Wright may be credited as the only performer but the play if far from a one-person show. Even as the audience is taking their seats, in the round, we can tell this will be a special kind of presentation as Naomi Wright mingles amongst and provides some audience members with instructions that will be revealed during the 65 minute show.
As she relays the first-person story of a young lady, who at seven years of age and finding herself with a depressed mother begins a list of Every Brilliant Thing she enjoys in life – with many of the items read out by the aforementioned audience members. As her life progresses, other audience members are recruited to play seminal figures in her life, a vet, her father, a school councilor, college lecturer, and boyfriend all appear from the seats, making each of the plays performances a unique episode. Despite the basis for our protagonist’s mission being influenced by a depressing subject, Every Brilliant Thing is filled with uplifting moments and memories and superb performances by Wright, and the audience members.
Stephanie Wong’s simply decorated set of scattered rugs and a console record player, portrays an intimate feeling of home, and Director Ashlie Corcoran leads what appears to be a completely spontaneous presentation but as the show progresses we see how carefully thought out and detailed the entire production really is. With such reliance on the audience anything could happen, requiring Ms Wright to potentially pivot on the spot, which she does with grace in the comfort of knowing the shows progression will run smoothly no matter what happens. Every moment and movement on stage appears absolutely natural and exciting, as though she really is telling us about Every Brilliant Thing for the first time.
With every performance a unique work, Every Brilliant Thing could be seen over and over, but ensure you see it at least once before its run at Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, 162 West 1st Ave, Vancouver closes on March 8th. Show details and tickets online at artsclub.com