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Everything but the Brain is a tragicomedy by Singaporean local writer Jean Tay. The work revolves around two main characters: Elaine Lim, a Science physics teacher, and her father Lim Chong Boon, a stroke-afflicted former professor. Originally developed at the Playwrights' Cove at The Necessary Stage in 2001, Everything but the Brain was first performed in 2005. The play won Best Original Script (for Tay) and Best Actor (for Gerald Chew as the father) at The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2006^[1] and was published by Epigram Books in 2010.^[2] In 2014, the play was selected by the Ministry of Education (Singapore) as a recommended 'O' and 'N' level literature text.^[3]

Characters

Elaine Lim: An unmarried, 36-year-old teacher specialising in Physics.
Lim Chong Boon: A 66-year-old former professor in Physics and Elaine's father.
Dr. Samuel Chen: A neurologist in his late twenties.

Chorus A: A nameless bear who primarily narrates most of the play's events.
Chorus B: A nameless bear and Chorus A's partner.
Chorus C: A nameless bear and Chorus A's partner.

Plot

A middle-aged Physics teacher attempts to reverse time using the Theory of Relativity in order to save her dying father.

Performance history

Everything but the Brain was first performed in 2005 under the helm of Krishen Jit. In 2010, Samantha Scott-Blackhall revisited the play and in 2013, Derrick Chew directed the third remake of the play.^[4] Everything but the Brain was also staged in 2012 in London by the UCL Singapore Society^[5] and in Nottingham by the University of Nottingham's Singapore Society.^[6]

References

^ "Death and Einstein's theory of relativity in Everything But The Brain". The Business Times. August 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
^ "Everything but the Brain". Epigram Books. Epigram Books. 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
^ "2065 Literature in English O Level (2014)" (PDF). Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
^ "Everything but The Brain needs more heart". The Straits Times. August 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
^ "Everything but the Brain by Jean Tay". Off West End. Off West End. 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
^ "SingSoc Production: Everything but the Brain". University of Nottingham Students' Union. University of Nottingham Students' Union. 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2014.