Content Warning: This article mentions mental health, suicide, suicide attempts, death, parental loss, and pet loss.
c/o Lila Poppell
When I took my seat at the beginning of “Every Brilliant Thing” on Saturday, March 2nd, I had no idea what to expect. Normally, I would do research and try to understand the concept of the work beforehand, but I was so busy that I didn’t have the time. That being said, “Every Brilliant Thing” grabbed my attention in a way that can’t be replicated.
Written by Duncan McMillan and Johnny Donahoe and directed as a senior thesis by Mo Andres ’24, “Every Brilliant Thing” follows a narrator who attempts to find the bright side in life after his mother attempts suicide. I’m following you. The play communicates to the audience through sensitive dialogue and audience participation. For each show, new audience members were chosen to play several characters. Mr. Patterson is a character that the narrator turns to when he feels isolated and alone. and Sam, the narrator’s partner and eventual spouse who left them after battling mental health. Through every aspect of the play, viewers were able to fully immerse themselves in the idea of wrestling with their own thoughts. Andres decided to immerse himself in the reality of the play after hearing about it from one of his housemates.
“I ended up reading the play and thought, ‘Wow, this is really meaningful,'” Andres said. “I have lost many people to suicide, and I know many people who have suffered from mental illness.”
Every moment of the play was filled with purpose and sincerity. A storyteller’s purpose has always been known, but “Every Brilliant Thing” asks viewers what that purpose is and how it relates to the joy of their own lives. Ta. The audience began to feel truly connected to themselves as they listened to the narrator discuss her and her loved ones’ mental health issues. I wondered how the cast and crew took care of themselves when working on scenes with triggering moments, especially when those moments related to their own experiences. Co-director CJ Joseph ’25 answered this question beautifully.
“For me, it was mainly learning how to communicate because I went through a lot along the way,” Joseph said. “I had to sit down with everyone and say, ‘Okay, I have to figure out how to be as productive as possible in that space, but at the same time, at some point, I have to take care of myself. We also have to recognize that we need to give out.”
Co-director Lincoln Turner ’25 also spoke about the importance of creating a space where everyone can feel comfortable and welcome.
“I think that because we created an environment where people could be open and honest, they felt safe and accepted,” Turner said. “I was able to have a conversation with CJ and Mo about where I am, where they are, and what they feel comfortable with.”
Andres expanded on this sentiment by talking about the importance of bringing people into environments where they don’t feel judged.
“From the beginning, I really wanted to create and maintain an environment where people could come as they are and not feel judged or have to hide the negative energy that comes up. I wanted to create an environment where I could care about people,” Andres said. “It was almost dangerous because I knew that in order to create that space, I had to be vulnerable too.”
“Every Brilliant Thing” brought a sense of unity and understanding to the stage and audience. What I particularly appreciated was how it made the audience think deeply about how we view joy in life. Stage manager Jerry Persaud Jr. ’26 talked about what was a joy in the process.
“What brought me the most joy was just watching,” Persaud said. “This crazy beginning is the beginning of intense personal themes and viewing.” [Andres] I built the characters, memorized the script perfectly, and created the storytelling and immersion that was a huge success and had a huge impact on so many people. ”
In this review, I would like to reflect on the joy that watching Every Brilliant Thing brought me. As someone who grew up struggling with mental health and continues to tread the line between being vulnerable and keeping it to himself, Andres shares some of his thoughts on mental health issues. It was so reassuring to see such a human expression of the experience of dealing with issues and mental biases. health needs.
Thank you “Every Brilliant Thing” for giving me an understanding of happiness that I thought was unfathomable. If you haven’t seen this, you’ve missed out on a great performance filled with joy, heartbreak, and dialogue that intertwines sadness and excitement. But so you don’t miss out on everything completely, I’d like to share with you two pieces of advice I got from her performance: It’s okay to openly communicate with others about your mental health. And don’t forget: I made you happy today.
Access to Oluchi Chukwuemeka is as follows: ochukwuemeka@wesleyan.edu.
