Open Forum

Has anyone here done The Book of Everything as a one act? I am having problems deciding where to cut. I just love the whole play! Any suggestions would be helpful!

Advocating for awesome shows that allow you to put a cast of 25 on stage the entire show by recommending "The Book of Everything." We did this as a 40-minute one act, although the full-length is also beautiful! I always struggle to find shows, so hoping this helps. The emotional saturation of this piece is such a challenge for actors as they must travel from joy to sorrow and back again. A performer's and audience favorite from beginning to end! Couldn't recommend it higher! I am so grateful to have directed this show and would do it again in a heartbeat. 

The whole show is in a story theatre format with beautifully poetic narration. We had an entire ensemble that represented Thomas's thoughts and feelings. They brought his entire world to life so we could see the world as Thomas sees it. The ensemble was on stage the entire show because Thomas was on stage the entire show. The ensemble narrated, played the cat and the Bumbiter, played magic portraits and bookshelves in Van Am's home, they were trees that lost their leaves in the hail storm, the window and doorway for the Klopper's home, children who tease Van Am, tropical guppies swimming in the canal, the church parishioners, and the party goers who come at the end of the show (just to name some of what they did). The ensemble were settings, characters, and Thomas's perspective primarily.