One-man play being staged at Sudbury's outdoor theatre venue explores themes of mental health and healing

There's a new one-man play being staged in Sudbury by the local theatre troupe known as YES Theatre/STC. It's called Every Brilliant Thing and is being performed at an intimate outdoor venue called The Refettorio in the city's downtown area.

In the production, local actor and the company's artistic director, Alessandro Costantini, presents what's been described in a theatre news release as a "gentle, life-affirming, roller coaster of a show about what makes life worth living and the lengths we will go for those we love.'

Costantini elaborated in an interview with CBC Radio, calling it a really unique theatrical experience.

"It is basically a conversation between the actor and the audience, and it tells the story of a young boy who is grappling with his mother's chronic depression," he said.

"In an effort to cheer her up, at age seven, he makes a list of everything worth living for. This list gradually takes on a bit of a life of its own and grows substantially longer during his life."

The play follows the boy through his teenage years and into adulthood, and explores themes of mental health and how people get through difficult times in their lives.

Costantini says although there is only one actor involved, the audience will have a number of interactive experiences.

"As people enter the theatre, they are given a small piece of paper with a number and a thing written on it. Throughout the play, I say many different numbers, and when their number is called, the audience members are required to speak the thing back," he said. 

Costantini says he feels the themes of mental health and the healing journey are particularly timely these days. 

"The thing that struck me about the writing is how much it celebrates the idea of talking to the people you love and how much community is sort of necessary in these moments, and that felt really akin to my own values, and my own practices an an artist," he said.

 Asked if doing a one-man play is exhausting, Costantini says it's not, but it is an interesting challenge, and one he welcomes.

"It really feels like nothing I've ever done in my career, because it's so unique, and there's so much spontaneity in it, especially as it is an outdoor venue with the sound of the city going by," he said.

"It also informs the way that the show flows. It's been really thrilling so far, audiences have been really loving it, and finding it really unique."

Every Brilliant Thing is being staged outdoors at The Refettorio in downtown Sudbury until Sept. 25.