“Every Brilliant Thing” gives reasons for living with joy and wonder

Roller coasters. Hammocks. The smell of old books. A much needed sneeze. The color yellow. What do they, and a host of other things, have in common? They’re all reasons to keep living, and they’re part of what became a list of over a million items compiled by the Narrator of Every Brilliant Thing, a British import written by Duncan Macmillan with Johnny Donahoe.

As played by Daniel Radcliffe, the Narrator — the only listed actor — guides us through his life story. At age seven, when Macmillan’s mother attempted suicide, he was told it was because she couldn’t find a reason for living. So he decides to write all the reasons he can think of, leaving little notes and lists everywhere for her, starting with “ice cream.”

He continues writing more reasons through the years, through all the highs and lows of his life — including significant, substantial lows, challenges that weave injuries, healing, and scars fundamentally into one’s experiences. Each brilliant thing is unique. Many become more specific — like reason 10,000, “Waking up late with someone you LOVE!”

You may recall I described Radcliffe as “the only listed actor”. Yet a feature of Every Brilliant Thing is that Radcliffe is moving around the aisles, greeting the incoming audience, and asking them to help with the performance. For many of them, it means calling out a brilliant thing when he says its number during the show. (Number 10,000 is supplied in everyone’s Playbill, so the entire audience can take part!)

And for a few, they are seated on stage and become people in the Narrator’s story, performing a little ad lib with Radcliffe. In a way these reveal a balance between vulnerability and control that gives a unique resonance to how the Narrator’s story mirrors relationships people have with those in their own lives.

As directed by Macmillan and Jeremy Herrin, Radcliffe gives a powerful, nuanced performance. He is thoroughly believable at every stage and through every milestone of his character’s life.

He radiates the joy of living and an indefatigable optimism that is contagious.

Every Brilliant Thing is the kind of show that is an antidote to the pressures and disappointments of modern life. If you’ve been wanting to catch that “God-damn-it-it’s-great-to-be-alive” feeling again, I cannot more strongly suggest treating yourself to Every Brilliant Thing!

Every Brilliant Thing is presented at the Hudson Theatre, 141 West 44th Street in New York. Daniel Radcliffe will be appearing through May 24. Mariska Hargitay, making her Broadway debut, appears May 26 through July 5. Tracee Ellis Ross, making her Broadway debut, appears July 7 through August 9. For more information, or to order tickets, go to everybrilliantthing.com.