**** Highly Recommended I was moved to tears by Namir Smallwood’s tour de force performance in Primary Trust. I didn’t know quite what to expect – given the whole imaginary friend thing – but as it turns out, the imaginary friend is more of a footnote because the play is actually about self-discovery and connection. Do not miss this poignant yet charming little play at the Goodman. It bumped some very prestigious plays to leap right into my top five plays of the year! 4 BIG Spotlights
The play is set in suburban Cranberry, New York. When Kenneth (Smallwood) was a boy, his single mother died. Traumatized, he hid her body in the pantry and sat next to her until someone found them. A CFS agent named Bert rescued him and eventually got him place in an orphanage. He promised to visit but never did.
When he aged out of the orphanage, Sam (Fred Zimmerman) hired him to work in his bookstore. Every day after work, Kenneth and his imaginary friend Bert (Charles Andrew Gardner) who is based on that CFS agent, head to Wally’s Tiki bar and order a couple of mai tais.
One day, Kenneth learns that Sam is closing the bookstore. With Bert’s help, Kenneth has to figure out how to get another job. After getting a tip from Corrina (Cristiana Clark), a server at Willy’s, he applies at a local bank, Primary Trust. Clay (Zimmerman), the bank manager, sees something in Kenneth and hires him.
Kenneth and Bert continue their mai tai after work at Willy’s tradition even when Clay invites Kenneth to join the bank employees for martinis at another bar. Kenneth turns out to be an excellent employee, exceeding Clay’s expectations. Eventually he does go out for drinks with Clay, but there are consequences – Bert cuts him loose.
As I watched Kenneth and Bert interact, I really thought Bert was his friend, but when Kenneth lost his job, his routine had to change, it was obvious that Bert was helping him hold it together. When he applied for the job, Kenneth looked away from Clay – who never reacted – and talked/listened to Bert.
Kudos to Director Malkia Stampley. This cast of four is absolutely outstanding. Although nothing was ever said, it was fairly obvious from Smallwood’s body language and behavior that Kenneth was somewhere on the spectrum. I found that profoundly moving. Zimmerman’s three characters – bookstore Sam, banker Clay and an officious Le Pousselet bartender – are totally different yet realistic. Finally, I can’t say enough about Cristiana Clark, who not only played Corrina, but all of the Wally’s waiters – and all the various bank customers with flair!
Primary Trust, written by Eboni Booth, premiered Off-Broadway in 2023. It won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In addition to its regional premiere at the Goodman, it also had regional premieres in Arlington, VA, Pittsfield, MA and La Jolla, CA this fall.
Primary Trust runs through November 3rd in the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Most reasonable parking option for the Goodman is the Government Center garage on Lake between LaSalle and Dearborn, $20 online advance payment at www.interparkonline.com/goodmantheatre.
Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission. Performances are: Wednesdays at 7:30 pm; Thursdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. Tickets $20-$65. FYI (312) 443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org/show/primary-trust/