4 out of 5 stars

“Every Brilliant Thing” doesn’t shy away from being a disarming, twee tear-jerker, starting with Daniel Radcliffe coaxing a volunteer on stage to help euthanize his imagined childhood dog. Yet Radcliffe makes that experience -- and the whole 75-minute play, written by Duncan MacMillan and Jonny Donahoe -- a heartwarming affair. That’s thanks to his boundless charisma and energy and witty ad libs during the many moments of largely improvised audience participation. He needs that charm to pull things off. Otherwise, the play, structured as a list of reasons why life is worth living, can sometimes seem saccharine and emotionally manipulative. — Justin McCallum

At the Hudson Theatre, through May 24, 2026; everybrilliantthing.com. (Review date: March 22, 2026)