The Goodman Theatre brings Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Primary Trust to Chicago. Directed by Malkia Stampley, this insightful show tackles themes of loneliness, trauma, and friendship with a healthy mix of laughs and poignant moments.
Set in the fictional town of Cranberry, New York in a time before smart phones, Primary Trust follows Kenneth, a Black man living in the mostly-white Rochester suburb. Kenneth is a man with a set routine: he spends his days working at a used bookstore and his nights at a dilapidated tiki bar called Wally’s, where he enjoys drinking mai tais with his best friend Bert. When his boss at the bookstore decides to sell the place, though, Kenneth is forced to make changes. Through a new job at the bank and an unexpected connection with a server at Wally’s, Kenneth finds the strength to confront his past and create a new kind of future.
Just four actors make up the cast of Primary Trust, and what a skilled ensemble they are. Fred Zimmerman, who plays Kenneth’s old boss Sam, his new boss Clay, and a French server, has absolutely impeccable comedic timing, and many of the show’s funniest moments can be credited to his performance (the French server, in particular, had me in stitches). Charles Andrew Gardner, who plays bestie Bert, brings a soothing air to the character that has the audience instantly at ease in his presence, and his chemistry with Namir Smallwood, who plays Kenneth, is delightful.
Christiana Clark does some heavy lifting here, multitasking as a variety of Wally’s servers and bank customers, in addition to her primary role as Kenneth’s potential friend Corrina. Clark is completely charming in all her roles and makes bold choices that make her many characters both distinctive and enjoyable. Smallwood is remarkable as Kenneth. The central character has some pretty unusual quirks, and Smallwood’s portrayal perfectly embodies these while never losing sight of Kenneth’s humanity. While he does a great job with his many comedic moments as well, it’s in the most emotionally fraught scenes that Smallwood’s acting expertise shines through, his choices utterly believable and emotionally resonant without ever treading into overwrought territory.
The unit set is simply stunning. The backdrop consists of a Black man’s face made up of lit-up rectangles reminiscent of buildings. Tied together with the smaller, building-like structures onstage, which double as furniture, the overall effect is to emphasize how firmly Kenneth is situated in Cranberry, and whether that feels restrictive or offers opportunities for connection depends on the moment in the script. The script itself is beautifully balanced. The way the story unfolds feels natural, with information revealed exactly when it’s needed, and the pacing is perfect, never dragging or rushing through important moments. In a compact ninety minutes, Booth takes the audience on a compelling journey, one with much to say about human connection, and it’s not surprising to me that this exceptional work was the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Dealing with change can be difficult for all of us, as can forming friendships, yet both are essential to leading a meaningful life. Primary Trust understands this, and its exploration of these themes feels fresh and exciting. After spending a wonderful hour and a half watching this show, I turned to the friend who was attending with me and thanked her for her friendship. She returned the thanks.
Ticket Information
Dates: October 5 – November 3, 2024
Location: 170 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60601
Tickets: $20 – $65. Available at the Goodman Theatre website or by phone at 312-443-3800.
All photos by Liz Lauren.
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