“Primary Trust” at TheaterWorks Hartford by Zander Opper

“Primary Trust”

TheaterWorks Hartford

TheaterWorks Hartford is currently presenting a revelatory production of Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Primary Trust.”  With the sensational Justin Weaks as the main character Kenneth, this show follows the life of this character and how changing jobs also changes him.  Weaks speaks directly to the audience and “Primary Trust” can be praised for slowly revealing layers about Kenneth, instead of presenting everything about him all at once. 

Director Jennifer Chang has done a wonderful job with this play and the ninety minute running time (without an intermission) goes by in a flash.  Chang also works terrifically with the three other actors in the production, but “Primary Trust” is really centered on Kenneth and Weaks is currently giving one of the best performances of the theater season as this character.  By all means, get to “Primary Trust” at TheaterWorks Hartford for a moving and deeply satisfying show.

Ricardo Chavira, Samuel Stricklen, and Hilary Ward portray the supporting parts in the play, with Chavira and Ward skillfully taking on several characters, and they are all excellent.  When “Primary Trust” begins, Kenneth is talking about his favorite bar and how he always will get several Mai Tais with his friend Bert (the superb Samuel Stricklen).  In the opening scene, there is a great conversation between and Kenneth and Bert at the bar and it displays how much they truly enjoy each other’s friendship.  It’s not really giving anything away that it is soon revealed that Bert is actually an imaginary friend.  This tipping off point begins to show just how troubled Kenneth really is.

Kenneth initially works at a bookstore, but, when the owner decides to close the store, Kenneth is faced with a career change, which turns out to be him becoming a teller at the Primary Trust Bank.  Helping him along are Chavira, as the boss at the bank, and Ward as Kenneth’s favorite waitress and friend, Corrina, at the bar.  As mentioned, both of these performers play multiple roles and they are terrific in delineating the separate characters, just with a change of dress (the ideal costumes are designed by Danielle Preston) and way of talking.

And then there is Stricklen as Bert.  This actor does full justice in this part and he almost has an otherworldly presence onstage.  I would be loathe to reveal how Bert became Kenneth’s imaginary friend, for it would ruin the surprises in the play.  Suffice it is to say that all is not what it initially seems in “Primary Trust” and that Kenneth has quite a backstory.

Indeed, this show is about Kenneth, and Justin Weaks is perfect in this role.  Weaks has an endearing quality about him and he immediately wins the audience over.  Even more so about his performance is how he personifies every part of this character—indeed, it is almost difficult to differentiate where Kenneth begins and Weaks ends.  This play really rises or falls at the expertise of the leading actor and it is gratifying news that Weaks is so fantastic that he can practically take your breath away.

The design elements in “Primary Trust are also superlative, with the fine set design by Nicholas Ponting being very adaptable, so that the show can go from a scene at the bar to a scene at the bank, just by moving pieces of the set.  The lighting design by Bryan Ealey is almost hypnotic and the sound design by Frederick Kennedy is crystal clear.  But just about every aspect of this production is fantastic and the show, as a whole, is a touching and deeply involving experience from beginning to end.

When Weaks takes the stage for the final scene, talking directly to the audience, it is not so different than the opening moments, but everything about Kenneth has changed, just by how much the audience collectively learns about him throughout the show.  “Primary Trust” is not always a feel-good show, but it doesn’t try to be.  Instead, it is a deeply honest and sensitive play and the production at TheaterWorks Hartford is really as good as it gets.  The character of Kenneth is definitely worth getting to know and this show is most highly recommended.

“Primary Trust” at TheaterWorks Hartford in Hartford, CT runs through May 11, 2025. For tickets, please visit http://www.twhartford.org.

Photo: (L-R): Ricardo Chavira, Justin Weaks, and Hilary Ward

Photo by Mike Marques