“06880” culture correspondent Robin Moyer Chung reports:
Over the past few days, “06880” has posted several readers’ praises of Westport Country Playhouse’s latest production, the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Primary Trust.”
I’ll add mine.
Eboni Booth wrote the play during the pandemic, while a student at Juilliard. It premiered Off-Broadway in May 2023.
Touching on isolation, neurodiversity and self-worth, “Primary Trust” illuminates the “invisible” people who float in the margins of our lives.
The characters are rich. The powerful script is tender and charming, with unexpected turns — a quiet uncoiling of the long, relentless tentacles of childhood trauma.
Alphonso Walker Jr., and Lance Coadie Williams.
The show follows Kenneth (Alphonso Walker Jr.), a lonely and unobtrusive 38-year old Black man. Kenneth has worked in the same small bookshop for 20 years. He wanders to Wally’s Tiki Bar every night for the 2-for-1 mai tai special, which he drinks with his only friend, Bert.
Bert, played brilliantly by Lance Coadie Williams, is a jovial and committed companion.
Jasminn Johnson, who effortlessly plays a carousel of entertaining Wally’s waitresses, also plays Corinna, Kenneth’s favorite waitress.
When the small bookstore closes, Kenneth follows a tip from Corinna and applies for a teller position at a local bank.
I don’t want to reveal much else.
Alphonso Walker Jr. and Jasminn Johnson. (Photos/Carolyn Rosegg)
For me, there was one small nag. The 3 main characters — Kenneth, Bert and Corinna — are Black (in accordance with the script). One actor is white: Kenneth’s boss at the bookstore, then the bank, played by the comical Greg Stuhr.
Though not denoted in the script, this casting choice was also in its original smash success off-Broadway.
An antagonistic relationship between older white men and younger Black men is a strong thread throughout modern theatrical and cinematic history, and it threw me off-course. Throughout the show I anticipated a clash or misunderstanding to be its climax, which never happened.
This expectation distracted me from the important themes of the play. Perhaps the casting was intended to disrupt this thread, and alter our preconceptions. I’m all for that.
Lighting designer Jonah Bobilin and sound designer Andrea Allmond deserve a special shout-out for their mastery of some tricky and impactful effects.
“Primary Trust” runs through May 2, 2026. Click here for show times, tickets and more information.
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“Primary Trust” is amazing in the way it seduces you into caring about Kenneth and his journey. The entire audience was deeply involved as the play progressed. I humbly disagree with your comment about the casting of the bank manager. The fact he was white brought an element of reality into the show. This is real life, a white man in a position of power. The play would not have worked as well if he were black. In any event, it is a wonderful theatre experience, right here in Westport, and I urge people to attend it and to support our gem of a Playhouse.
What a hopeful play. I saw it Tuesday and I keep thinking about the play. Suprising and uplifting!
Get your ticket !!!
What Janine said!
Well done! Touching and poignant.