It’s a play. It’s an interactive experience. It’s an inspiring evening of theatre in its most profound sense.
“Every Brilliant Thing” is an opportunity to participate of the journey of a little girl as she grows up with a suicidal mother who spends her days in a deep depression. To infuse her mother’s life with joy, the 7-year-old creates a list of all things she knows that make life wonderful.
“1. Ice Cream. 2. Water fights. 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV.”
As life goes on and she moves from childhood to adulthood, the list continues to grow and take on a life of its own. Make no mistake – this is a big-hearted show, played with unbridled enthusiasm and warmth by Chicago’s own Jessie Fisher.
The audience is invited to participate by reading off a list of joyful statements and take on the role of various characters, gently coached by Fisher. This collaboration turns out to be humorous, endearing, and just plain fun.
The play takes the audience on a journey in a range of emotions from joy to despair. Through it all, there is a sense of wonder, a sense of hope, that everything will turn out ok when you look at all the spectacular experiences life brings you.
The play takes place in the Gillian Theatre, an informal space with traditional theatre seats, sofas and armchairs, patio/lawn chairs, and cabaret table seating. There are no assigned seats, but there is a bar for adult beverages. Come early for the best selection. In continuing the audience participation, theatre-goers are asked to write their own joyous experiences on post-in notes along the wall leading into the theatre.
Growing up on the North Shore, Fisher is delighted to make her Writers Theatre debut. She carries an extensive resume with Broadway credits: Girl in Once, Delphi in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (OBC), and Jaye in A Beautiful Noise (OBC). She also starred in What the Constitution Means to Me (Milwaukee Rep), Constellations, Of Mice and Men (Steppenwolf), Othello, The Heir Apparent, Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare), 33 Variations (TimeLine), The Pride, Abraham Lincoln was a F- (About Face) and work with The Hypocrites, ATC, Chicago Children’s Theatre and The Gift. On TV, Fisher’s spots include Chicago Justice, Chicago PD, Boss.
“Every Brilliant Thing” is written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and directed by Kimberly Senior who previously directed Buried Child, The Scene, Marjorie Prime and other shows. Kudos to Izumi Inaba for excellent scenic and costume design with Jason Lynch for lighting.
“Every Brilliant Thing” runs through January 5, 2025 at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe. For tickets, go to WritersTheatre.org or call 847-242-6000.
You’ll leave this joyous, life-affirming play feeling hopeful and inspired. Life is worth living, indeed.
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