Extra Credit Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant thing gave a unique twist to storytelling that enthralled audiences of Brigham Young University. I came with an expectation that this would be a story told in the form of a play: with actors in costume playing characters accompanied by scenery.  Having seen Off the Map shows before, I also came with the expectation that it would be a very well-worth-seeing show.  My expectation of the show's caliber was certainly attained, but my expectation of it's style was greatly contrasted.  It was a one man show, the one and only actor was a brilliant storyteller that used the audience in a very interactive way to paint a picture of his childhood, love life, and depression.  Many of the audience members were given pieces of paper with numbers and "brilliant things" listed on them.  The audience members got to call those out when the actor cued them.  He also included the audience by having certain people play characters in the story.  Much of the story was flexible, and the actor would come up with it on the spot, especially when he would ask the audience to provide books or to say things as the characters that they were playing.  The story as a whole had the entire audience laughing, was uplifting and inspiring, and at times a little sad.  The simplicity of the show was, in part,  what made it so brilliant. Acting in the round, the one performer used almost no props, no extra costume pieces other than the casual outfit he was wearing, and there was no set. I thoroughly enjoyed this surprising, uplifting, artistic theatrical piece because of the unique storytelling techniques the artist used to convey a message to the audience of using small, simple, happy things of life to combat depression.