Personal Growth in La Jolla Playhouse’s Touching ‘Primary Trust’

The concept of the recent Pulitzer-Prize winning drama, Primary Trust, seems like a fantastical story that is peculiar or excessively idiosyncratic. However, the plot of the excellent drama now playing at the La Jolla Playhouse is one that should resonate with anyone who understands both how it feels to be socially isolated and how important human connections are to a fulfilling existence.

Set in Cranberry, New York, an outer suburb of Rochester, a 38-year-old Black man, Kenneth (Caleb Eberhardt), spends most of his nights drinking at a tiki bar, Wally’s, with his imaginary friend, Bert (James Udom). After the local bookstore he works at closes, the barfly meets a waitress he quickly becomes friendly with, Corrina (Rebecca S’Manga Frank). After telling her about his job search, Corrina suggests that Kenneth apply for a bank teller position at the Primary Trust Bank.

Upon winning over the bank manager, Clay (James Urbaniak), in his interview, he immediately gets a job offer.

Eboni Booth’s script lets the audience form a connection with Kenneth through her use of narration, particularly early on in the tale. She gradually reveals information about the initial loner that makes him a very empathetic character.

Booth’s writing is touching because she focuses on a person whose past is tragic and painful, but she still emphasizes hope and the significance of human decency.

Director, Knud Adams, stages sequences in a naturalistic style that feels true to the rhythms of day-to-day life. His storytelling is so strong, that he keeps events onstage at the Mandell Weiss Forum captivating, including ones that involve extended periods of silence. Both dialogue-heavy and wordless situations (sometimes featuring eclectic live music by Luke Wygdony) are handled equally well by the cast.

Eberhardt leads the production with a powerfully subtle portrayal of Kenneth. He showcases the protagonist’s character arc by portraying all of the emotions that he goes through from uncontrollable sadness to joy.

Udom, Frank, and Urbaniak depict their roles with an equal amount of humor and compassion. Each of the co-stars shares genuine chemistry with Eberhardt.

Aiding Knud and the performers is set designer, Marsha Ginsburg, and lighting designer, Masha Tsimring. Ginsburg’s scenic design showcases the low-key appeal of Cranberry with models of several significant locations, such as Wally’s. In addition, Tsimring’s lighting beautifully enhances monologues and conversations, especially when Kenneth shares crucial information about his past with theatregoers.

With so much conflict happening daily in the real world, this is the perfect time to watch a show that celebrates kindness and supporting others. I left the staging being moved by Kenneth’s odyssey of self-discovery.

View the program online.

Show times are Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.