Described as heart-wrenching and hilarious, even one of the funniest plays about depression, “Every Brilliant Thing” will be performed at the San Juan Community Theatre from June 27-July 28.

“I was immediately smitten with the script! It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s moving… It’s about a little girl trying to deal her mother’s depression, written by a person who grew up in a time when we didn’t talk about depression or suicide as a society,” said Nathan Kessler-Jeffery, Artistic Director of the Community Theatre and Director of “Every Brilliant Thing. “It’s always challenging to address topics like that in a way that are uplifting and hopeful. Every Brilliant Thing works so beautifully because it doesn’t shy away from the complexity of the character’s situation, but it handles it with simplicity, humor, and joy.”

It does come with a warning on the theatre’s website; the production includes a brief dialogue about depression and suicide. At the core of the story, however, is the lengths individuals will go for loved ones. Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, “Every Brilliant Thing” looks through the eyes of a child whose mother suffers from depression. Filled with resounding hope, infectious humor, and surprising warmth, “Every Brilliant Thing” counts the joys that make living wonderful and celebrates the hope people find in the smallest miracles of life; from ice cream to favorite movies, and especially laughing so hard milk shoots out one’s nose. The list takes a life of its own through the child’s growth and experiences.

The play stars islands’ very own Boo Boo James and will take place on the Gubelman Theatre stage. Because “Every Brilliant Thing” engages with the audience making the intimacy of the smaller room fitting.

The play shines with James as the narrator, according to Kessler-Jeffery, clearly excited to have her return, “Boo Boo James is back on our stage! She last appeared in A Christmas Carol, which we produced in 2019, a few months before the pandemic shut everything down. Boo Boo is absolutely radiant in the show and does a fantastic job balancing the script, the staging, and the connection to the audience.”

Speaking of the audience, the interaction between participants and James means attendees are critical.

“The audience is very important to this show. The show was developed by a writer and an improv comedian and the interaction with the audience is an integral part of how the performance happens,” Kessler–Jeffery explained. In fact, people may want to attend several times. “No two performances of this show will be the same, which is one of the reasons I selected it. We’re doing our best to lean into productions that can truly only be experienced in a live performing arts environment.”

The Portland Center Stage spoke with Macmillan, asking about discussing depression in general. “It’s a scary, dark subject that we didn’t want to sentimentalize, but we also wanted to be really honest and helpful about it. We felt it was important to do something that is very rare for British men, which is to talk about emotions. It had to be funny, and it also needed to be open and generous and inclusive of an audience and not scare people off,” Macmillan is quoted as saying.

The topic of depression is painful, yet nearly everyone has dealt with those feelings at some point, on some level. Kessler-Jeffery says, “I have loved ones who struggle with depression, and I’ve been there myself from time to time. In the words of the show, “It gets better. It may not always get brilliant, but it gets better.”

His own list includes:

“The smell of the sea as you approach the water near English Camp.

When a Goldendoodle rests her chin on your knee.

Dungeons & Dragons

Trying a new cocktail for the first time.

When my wife Courtney catches me before I’m able to do the ongoing prank that annoys her the most.”

Tickets are limited, and while the show runs June 27-July 28 the performance schedule, according to Kessler=Jeffery, is a little strange because of other summer events. Cost is adults $26, students $13 and student rush at the door is $5. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. To find the schedule and purchase tickets visit www.sjctheatre.org.

Contributed photo by the San Juan Community Theatre What makes life sparkle?