Childhood days are supposed to be the best time of one’s life. There’s nothing to worry about, and nothing to fear. But what if, one day, suddenly, your mother is rushed to the hospital and all you know is that your mother is unwell, and your father says, ‘she’s done something stupid.’ How would you, a seven-year-old, react?
Not easy-peasy
On the surface, this might appear like a simple story about a family. However, Every Brilliant Thing by English playwright Duncan Macmillan and British stand-up comedian Jonny Donahoe, is anything but simple. A production of the play, directed by Mumbai-based Quasar Padamsee from Q Productions, which will be staged this weekend, looks at life, relationships and most importantly, mental health through the perspective of a child. The story doesn’t look at the gloom associated with mental health issues, but highlights the small joys of life like balloons, chocolate and the colour yellow — all from a long list that the child puts together to tell his mum how blessed they are.
This is the difference between a child’s perspective and an adult’s way of looking at life. The play’s director, Quasar, fondly called Q and his actor, Vivek Madan, capture this emotion beautifully. “It is a remarkable piece of playwriting,” says Q, adding, “It’s not just about depression, it is about life, love, friendships and family. While mental health is the theme, it is not the play. The story is a delicate exploration of tender relationships, made all the more complex by the issues at hand.”
Get together
Bengaluru theatre circuit’s popular artiste, Vivek, performs this solo piece. He is the seven-year-old who has to deal with his mother’s depression and suicidal tendencies. “Vivek is a very good storyteller and he had a big role to play in the process of adapting this play. Vivek and I had a number of script airings in Mumbai and Bengaluru. An airing, a word we’ve coined, is like reading through a script, with a bit of the movement,” explains Q. So the performance includes an interaction with the audience.
Some parts of the play are improvised when Vivek has to include ideas and feedback offered to him by the audience. “Every Brilliant Thing is everything that is good about theatre. It’s about the community, sharing, honesty and joyfulness. It has dramatic moments that are heightened and simple things that hurt.
It’s very human. The audience is constantly involved in what is going to happen, they almost take the show forward,” enthuses Q. The team hopes that after watching the show, audiences will feel comfortable talking about mental health issues without inhibitions.
Rs 200. June 8-9, 7.30 pm. At Shoonya, Lalbagh Road
ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
@aishatax