TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the regional premiere of “Primary Trust” March 4-29 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.
Written by Eboni Booth and directed by playwright and director Jeffrey Lo, the comedic drama follows a bookstore worker in New York whose life is turned upside down after he’s laid off.
William Thomas Hodgson stars as Kenneth, the 38-year-old who suddenly finds himself looking for work. When he finds a job at a bank, Kenneth is forced to confront his past trauma and rediscover himself.
When Lo and Hodgson read the play after it won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Lo said they were both in tears and eager to be a part of a production of it.
Lo described “Trust” as a play about someone who needs the help of human connection and kindness to overcome hardship.
“I was just so taken (aback) by the kindness and the heart that this play holds within itself and its characters,” Lo said. “Little gestures and interactions can reverberate into enormous positive things for people’s lives. That idea felt like an important reminder and message for all of us to sit with as we navigate the times we live in.”
Lo added that, as a Filipino American, he was excited to learn from the actors and take on a new perspective, as most of the characters in “Trust” are African American. That includes Kenneth, a Black man who lives in a predominately white town.
Lo and Hodgson said “Trust” explores a wide range of emotions and themes, including loneliness, the Black experience, mental health, grief and kindness – all while including moments of humor.
“This play is challenging on an emotional level. It goes from comedic to warm to dramatic in a matter of minutes, and to be able to … find the balance of how we want to do that requires really smart and hardworking actors,” Lo said. “There’s also a kindness in all of these characters that I want to spill off the stage – I want the audience to really feel that. I wanted actors who led with their heart and soul, which I have with all of these performers.”
While kindness and human connection are at the center of the “Trust,” Hodgson said the play doesn’t feel overly dramatic.
“It talks about something that’s really important and makes me feel more connected to humanity, but it’s not saccharine,” Hodgson said. “It’s easy to watch, like a musical. Musicals talk about really deep things, but they’re kind of lightweight and fun. This play is really fresh, young and easy.”
He added that “Trust” challenges the cast and excites the audience through its creative staging. Lo noted that one actor plays nearly 20 characters in a short amount of time, requiring quick wardrobe changes.
“There are rhetorical devices and staging devices that make (the play) feel larger than life – there’s some magical realism that’s never really explained,” Hodgson said. “There’s lots of time jumping, kind of an improv style and actors changing characters live on stage.”
Lo said audiences can ultimately expect a heartfelt and engaging experience through the play’s rich emotional range and passionate actors.
“People have said that this play feels like a warm hug, and we could all sort of use that right now. Audiences will be reminded of the power of community and the power of the human spirit to help and support one another,” Lo said.
For times, tickets ($34-$115) and more information, visit tinyurl.com/PrimaryTrust.
