Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing is a one-person play which tells the story of a person who, from the age of 7, strives to cope with his mother’s depression and suicide attempts by creating a list of everything that makes life worth living. Throughout the course of the play, the narrator creates a list of one million wonderful things in life ranging from ‘really good oranges’ to ‘planning a declaration of love.’ Audience members are invited to participate in the creation and partial recitation of this list. While the list is not enough to heal the protagonist’s mother or her mental illness, the narrator creates a warm and inviting space where hope, humor, and gratitude permeate and the audience can form a sincere connection with one another and the performer.