Editor’s note: Photos were not permitted during the performance.
WESTFORD — Westford Academy Theater Arts held its last performance of “Every Brilliant Thing” on Feb. 7.
The play, directed by WA senior Megan Piendak, is about how a 6-year-old boy’s life changes after finding out that his mother attempted suicide. The story follows the complicated emotions of fear, dread, anger, sadness and even hope as the boy creates a list of every brilliant thing in the world to live for.
The list was presented in no particular order and could include anything from the smell of cut grass to music to pineapple on pizza. The list was a combination of the little pleasures in life that can be personal or universal.
An important message echoed throughout the show: Things might not always get brilliant but they do get better.
The show was performed in the WA Black Box Theater. For those of you who have not been in the Black Box Theater, the space can be described in two words: intimate and versatile. If you have been in the Black Box Theater, versatile may not be the first word you would use to describe the space that fits just over 70 people. However, one might call it versatile in its possibilities. The classroom turned stage was completely transformed since its last show “A Reflection of Us,” which was performed in early January by the Westford Academy PlayLab students.
As the audience filled the seats some may have noticed the brightly colored sticky notes adorning the walls and tech table; Or that each of the four windowless, black walls were covered in chalk drawings. Some were simply colored giving the wall a lighter, more childlike look while other areas were purposefully marked with chalk-drawn paintings and records to create a scene. Center stage, the black floor outlined by risers, had no props.
The space challenged actors to tell stories up close relying on sheer skill and a couple of props, a feat in and of itself. In fact, throughout the entirety of the show, the few props that were used were sticky notes, stools books and the audience.
Indeed, the audience played a major role in this performance which added to the intimacy of the already tight space. Whether they were prepared or not, audience members were turned into actors as they were tasked with calling out brilliant things for the list having been given numbered sticky notes before open curtain.
Audience members were also called upon to play the parts of father, therapist, veterinarian, and partner. Each helper got their own impromptu time to shine before being asked to return to their seat.
The show followed the boy, played by four actors, throughout his life. The performance did not lack moments of laughter and the actors leaned into these bringing more life to the show. The audience seemed moved by the show until the final standing ovation.
It would seem that the list of great things was lacking one addition: Westford Academy’s performance of “Every Brilliant Thing.”
The show featured actors Austin Kane, Iris Ledell, Abby Mantenuto and June Viera.
The show also featured Phoenix Dailey as Assistant Director, Kali Seiger as Stage Manager, Eli Weatherwax as Lighting Design/Board Operator, Anne-Sophie Khripin as Scenic/Properties Design and Marta Laniez-Clapers as Sound Design/Board Operator.
