There is comfort we all crave in the familiar: our daily routine, the restaurant booth where we always sit, and the people we see every day, who witnesses us at our best and, occasionally, at our most vulnerable. This profound attachment to the rhythms of life forms the gentle, powerful core of Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner, “Primary Trust,” currently running on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater through Nov. 16.
Photo by Dan Norman
Set in the quaint, fictional town of Cranberry, New York, this story is surprisingly moving, exploring resilience and the quiet dignity of hope. The masterfully acted production is told by an ensemble of four actors, led with sensitivity and precision by Bryce Michael Wood as Kenneth in his Guthrie debut.
When we first meet Kenneth, he is our narrator, guiding us through a life that is simple and good. His days are filled with a cherished job at a used bookstore and a faithful friend with whom to share a daily Mai Tai at Wally’s Tiki. But life, as it always does, intervenes. When the bookstore closes, Kenneth is forced into an uneasy transition, navigating a new job and, most importantly, forging new and unexpected friendships that challenge his established world.
Photo by Dan Norman
Wood delivers a delicate, emotionally textured performance as Kenneth. Wood embodies the quiet soul of a man whose contentment lies in repetition and predictability. We feel the weight of his anxiety and the silent strength of his character as he grapples with change. It is a nuanced and honest portrayal that ensures we are not merely watching a character, but are actively investing in his evolution.
Rounding out the cast and populating the corners of Cranberry are three familiar Guthrie faces, each tasked with creating an entire town. As the sole actress, Nubia Monks returns after her dynamic performance in “The Nacirema Society,” taking on a series of roles, or should I say, many distinct roles, each brought to life with thrilling specificity. Monks uses her bright eyes, melodic voice, and a diverse slew of accents to create a parade of characters who populate Kenneth’s world.
As Kenneth’s lifelong best friend, Bert, Will Sturdivant provides the necessary grounding and levity. He calms and cheers Kenneth throughout their belly-laugh-fueled happy hours, creating a friend whose unwavering presence is the bedrock of Kenneth’s routine, a rare and fully realized human we’d all be lucky to have in our lives.
Pearce Bunting shines as Kenneth’s two distinct bosses. They understand exactly where Kenneth is in his process and meet him there with humor, patience, and a genuine, unexpected warmth.
Photo by Dan Norman
In his Guthrie directorial debut, Marshall Jones III guides the performance with a swift, intimate pace, keeping the runtime at just 95 minutes with no intermission. The staging feels inherently episodic, reflecting the relentless but reassuring passage of time as the sun sets on happy hour, day after day. Jones’ touch ensures we see only what we need to know. These are people we deeply care about.
Booth has written more than just a one-act dramedy; she has filled those minutes with a community of real people who are truly there to share in Kenneth’s life, to gently challenge him, and ultimately, to champion him. The design team has created a world that transports us around this fictional town with impressive ease. From that ever-present, worn restaurant booth to the sterile bank counter, the set pieces are places we know from our own lives. The minimal sound design, the essential set dressing, and the brilliantly executed light cues are all we need to signal a change in locale, time, or season.
Kenneth and his simple, profound tale are a much-needed reminder to look up and say hello to those who come into our daily lives and to be a little kinder to the quiet ones among us. “Primary Trust” underscores that every person has a story to share if we are willing to listen with an open heart. Just like spending time at Wally’s Tiki, an evening with this Guthrie production is to be among friends: a perfect opportunity to share a comfortable laugh, perhaps shed a quiet tear, and, if you’re lucky, be inspired to raise a glass to the simple resilience of the human spirit.
