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| Jarrad West in "Every Brilliant Thing" |
Written by
Duncan Macmillan – Directed by Joel Horwood
Production
Design: Joel Horwood – Sound Design and Stage Management: Nikki Fitzgerald
Lighting
Design: Sophia Carlton – Performed by Jarrad West.
ACT HUB 20th – 25th August 2024.
Performance on 21st August reviewed
by BILL STEPHENS.
It’s unusual
for a play about suicide to be uplifting. But Duncan Macmillan’s wise little
one-person play about a method devised by one individual to not only cope with
the trauma of such an event in his life, but also with other of life’s tribulations,
certainly leaves its audience glowing.
Actually it’s
a bit misleading to describe this play as one-person, because in Joel Horwood’s
production the audience become enthusiastic participants, almost unwittingly,
as story-teller, Jarrad West gently weaves them into his story.
Indeed watching how various members of the audience respond to their opportunities is
one of the unexpected pleasures of this production.
Presented in
the round, with the audience seated in a circle around a central draped set-piece,
engenders a sense of intimacy. Scattered around the circumference are several similarly
draped set-pieces, their purpose revealed as the story unfolds.
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| Jarrad West in "Every Brilliant Thing" |
West is a
consummate story-teller as well as a skilled actor. His friendly interaction in
warmly welcoming audience members as they arrive, while surreptitiously planning
who will be invited to undertake particular tasks, successfully dissipates any natural
reluctance to participate. His choices are vital to the success of the
production.
His skill in insuring that no one was embarrassed, and that their contribution would be appreciated, was quickly recognised, resulting in some remarkable spontaneous moments as the audience became more and more invested in the story-telling. Indeed at this performance the audience member asked to give a speech at his gay son’s wedding elicited tears and cheers from the audience for his impromptu, heart-felt effort.
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| Jarrad West in "Every Brilliant Thing" |
The teller’s
story begins when he is just 7 years of age, and progresses through various
pivotal stages of his life. West skilfully portrays these stages without resorting
to caricature or actorly flourishes. Instead he allows the wit and originality of
Macmillan’s writing to shine through.
In this he
is aided by Horwood’s unobtrusive, perceptive direction and clever use of sound,
which ensured that the storytelling never became static and that the serious
moments hit their mark.
Definitely entertaining, even occasionally moving, “Every Brilliant Thing” is an engaging play, given an intelligent, thoughtful production by ACT Hub, that is guaranteed to leave it’s audience charmed and uplifted.
Images by Photox - Canberra Photography Services.
The review also published in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW
