Review by Bonnie Goldberg
Trust is a promise that some one or some thing will honor a commitment, will do what they say they will, a feeling of confidence that one can feel safe and secure. What happens if trust does not exist, from a family member, a friend. a neighbor, even a stranger? Our whole foundation on how to depend on another person rests on these fundamental relationships. What happens when they don’t exist?
All our social interactions are the basis for trust. We need to have faith in each other and ourselves in all relationships for life, home, work, in society. TheaterWorks Hartford is offering a lesson in “Primary Trust,” a winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Eboni Booth, directed by Jennifer Chang until Sunday, May 11.
Come meet Kenneth, a late thirties-something African-American man, who has been hiding in the nooks and crannies of a used bookstore for decades. He is essentially hiding from life, stacking books by day and slurping mai tai drinks in a tiki bar named Wally’s by night. Without the companionship of his best friend Bert, he would be navigating life alone. Cranberry, New York is not a hot bed of social activity so when Kenneth is told by his boss Sam, an apologetic Ricardo Chavira, he is sick and selling out, Justin Weaks’ Kenneth in effect suffers a meltdown.
Having lost his mother when he was only ten, Kenneth must once again face a harsh reality. He must begin again. He must suddenly stand up for himself. He must find a new job. Most importantly, he must discover a new best friend because BBF Bert is imaginary. How Kenneth manages the nearly impossible tasks is a lesson in courage. His new boss Clay, also Ricardo Chavira, miraculously takes him under his wing at Primary Trust Bank and, like the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz,” enbues Kenneth with new courage. Hilary Ward’s legion of friendly waitresses at Wally’s give him a sense of self-esteem and old pal Bert, Samuel Stricklen, sticks around long enough to seal the do-over deal.
For tickets ($25 and up), call TWH, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford at 860-527-7838 or online at twhartford.org. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Come early to admire the art gallery of Alexandra Wahl in a series of quilted light boxes, “Community of Light.” suggested by the play and enjoy a cup of Mezzie’s ice cream before the 90 minute inermissionless show. Personally I vote for a cup of Heath Bar Crunch.
Watch how Kenneth struggles to create a new world for himself when his existing one crumbles like a sand castle enveloped by the ocean tide.
