EVERY BRILLIANT THING

Corn Exchange, Dorchester

“SMILE though your heart is aching”, the old song says it all in this short but tender drama which tells the story of a seven year old boy growing up knowing that his mother is suicidal.

And just in case you think this is going to be another hand-wringing sob story, the production sets a lighthearted tone within the opening lines by recreating the boy’s pet dog from a borrowed sweater and naming it Ronnie Barker.

A solo performance in the round by Jonny Donahoe creates an emotive piece of magic from this unlikely scenario written by Duncan Macmillan which brings laughter and tears in equal measure as the boy grows up within a background of depression and fear, learning to cope by drawing up a list of everything that is brilliant in his world.

The story has a distinct ring of biography about it as adulthood brings with it heartache along with achievement, beautifully enacted in an endearingly optimistic production that has been a substantial success at the Edinburgh Festival and is currently on a national tour

Audience participation played a substantial role during the Dorchester performance as everyone was given a numbered note to read out loud when given their cue, not to mention those who unexpectedly found themselves playing leading roles. And if the occasional inaudible mumbled response from audience members reduced the dramatic impact of the story, the ever exuberant Jonny kept up the pace helped along by background pop hits of the past.

MARION COX