Every Brilliant Thing NYC Reviews and Tickets

90%

(15 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Clever, Profound, Absorbing, Resonant, Funny

About the Show

Barrow Street presents the story of a young boy who attempts to cure his mother's depression by finding the best things in life.

'In Every Brilliant Thing,' a young boy attempts to ease his mother's depression by creating a list of all the best things in the world. Everything worth living for. Through adulthood, as the list grows, he learns the deep significance it has on his own life. Every Brilliant Thing is a new play about depression and the lengths we go to for those we love.

Member Reviews (15)

Absorbing, Clever, Poignant, Resonant, Endearing

See it if you like being reminded of what makes life worth living. EBT is touching, but not terribly profound or original. The acting was solid.

Don't see it if you want traditional theater. EBT is more like a lecture w/audience participation. It was captivating, but not ambitious. Not really a play. Read more

Ambitious, Absorbing, Clever, Intelligent, Edgy

See it if you want to see a really unique, wonderful one man show. It's funny and heartbreaking. Very memorable.

Don't see it if don't want to see a play about depression, even a funny one.

Poignant, Profound, Intense, Thought-provoking

See it if you're interested in seeing a play with immense heart that tackles weighty topics like depression and suicide with a dash of humor.

Don't see it if you shy away from audience participation or don't enjoy one man shows.

Masterful, Heart-breaking, Profound, Funny, Absorbing

See it if personal memoir pieces move you. This is one of the best. It touches every emotion leaving you brilliantly short circuited by the end.

Don't see it if if you hate solo, audience interactive, shows dealing with depression. Then again, that's pretty much life. It's very funny and up-lifting.

100

Brilliant, Clever, Profound, Hilarious

See it if if you ever get the chance. It is brilliant, touching, funny, clever and more.

Don't see it if if you are uncomfortable with audience participation Read more

Great acting, Great writing, Original, Profound, Refreshing

See it if You are, or want to be, a compassionate person. Don't be put off by "audience participation"- your minor moment helps make this show.

Don't see it if You confuse sensitivity with sentimentality and think audience participation must automatically be cringe-inducing or embarrassing.

100

Clever, Funny, Great writing, Original, Profound

See it if you want to see a "brilliant" one man show about depression, with beautiful audience participation. Extremely moving.

Don't see it if being asked to participate (in a small way, don't worry!) scares you, or if you're in the mood for a classic play. This is outside the box.

Intelligent, Profound, Funny, Thought-provoking

See it if you want to be moved and impressed with the quickness and inventiveness of the telling.

Don't see it if you think gratitude is too touchy feeley.

Critic Reviews (12)

"The reconfigured in-the-round theater exudes the intimacy of an informal living room. Mr. Donahoe presides over it as a host who is skilled in the art of disarming; he generates the illusion that he is somehow our acquaintance of long standing. This acuity and affability isn’t nearly as effortless as Mr. Donahoe makes it appear. The script walks a fine line with unobtrusive artistry."
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"A theatrical candy cane: very sweet but tempered by sharpness and striped with bright nostalgia...Canes made of candy, it turns out, provide only so much support. But Macmillan’s slim, hour-long show works a gentle magic, thanks to Donahoe’s skill as a host."
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"The two words I least want to hear in conjunction with a show I’m about to attend are audience participation...Every Brilliant Thing, a touching and unusual new work at the Barrow Street Theatre, is the exception that proves the rule."
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"Donahoe is a warm and personable performer — so warm and personable, he doesn’t even seem to be performing as much as taking the audience into his confidence. Not only is his emotionally damaged character willing to share his precepts for a happy life with his audience, it’s actually mandatory that the audience become collaborators (or is it enablers?) in his story."
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"Every Brilliant Thing is far more a communal experience — bordering on group therapy — than a passively absorbed theatrical presentation. Donahoe, however, with his genuine demeanor and infectious smile, succeeds in turning a piece about the grave subject of suicide into the most joyful session you'll ever attend. "
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