Question Drafts: 

  • What are some of the “brilliant things” that would be on your list? As the list in the show grew, rules emerged: “a. no repetition, b. things had to be genuinely wonderful and life affirming, c. not too many material items.” Consider your senses – sights, feelings, scents, tastes, and sounds – and get specific about your “brilliant things!” 

 

  • How we talk about depression, suicide, and mental health issues matters. The narrator mentions the Samaritans guidelines for how to talk about suicide intelligently and provide resources to support those in need. If someone in your life was having a difficult time or struggling with their mental health and you didn’t know how to help, what resources might you make use of? Who could you call? What ways could you seek support for them or yourself? 

 

  • The narrator mentions they are “grateful to be ordinary” in contrast to “genius” musicians and artists who they see as more susceptible to mental illness. What does it mean to put “artist” and “ordinary” up against each other as opposites? How might we combat the myth of the “tortured artist” and take better care of ourselves while holding onto our creativity? What does it mean to be ordinary? Might being ordinary actually be extraordinary? 

 

  • The narrator experiences both moments of great joy and laughter around moments of grief and sorrow. What’s a moment of humor that stood out to you from the show? What about a moment of humor that stands out from your life? What’s the hardest you’ve ever laughed about something? 

 

  • This show’s format is unique in the way it invites audiences to participate through reading list items and being cast as characters in the story. How did you expect to feel being asked to participate? How did you actually feel during the show? How do you feel now after the show? 

 

  • Imagine you were going to tell a part of your life story in this format. Who are the people in your life that would appear in the story? What songs might be featured? 

 

  • The narrator associates specific music with many of their memories throughout the show. Does a certain song bring you right back to a time in your life? What tastes or scents remind you of a person or place? Which of your senses do you most strongly associate with memories? 

 

—————————————————– —————————————————– —————————————————- 

 

Notes —  

  • What are some of your brilliant things? Rules of the list 

Having difficult conversations 

  • The narrator is supporting a family member through a difficult time. Have you ever supported a family member or friend through a crisis? What techniques did you use? What challenges did you have? 
  • Naming it. Samaritans guidelines. How we speak about suicide.  
  • If someone was having a hard time and you didn’t know how to help, who would you call or what resources could you make use of? 

 

Holding grief/despair and joy at the same time. Order of questions. 

 

“grateful to be ordinary” – contrast to idea that artists are more susceptible to mental illness – debunking that myth – Werther effect – Is there an ordinary – dichotomy of artist/ordinary – ordinary to be extraordinary 

 

Theatricality and audience participation 

How did you expect to feel being asked to participate and how did you actually feel during/after the show? 

If you were to tell your story in this format, who are the characters that would feature in the story? What song would underscore or set the mood for a moment? Sock puppet moment? 

Moment of humor 

  • What’s the hardest you’ve ever laughed about something? 
  • The narrator experiences moments of great joy and laughter around moments of grief and sorrrow. What’s a moment of humor that stood out to you from the show? What’s a moment of humor from your life? 

Worksheet 

Music & emotion/mood – your songs 

What other senses do you associate memories with? 

 

Body scan, changing space for comfort, guided meditation script 

Left with a feeling of embodiment and agency