Primary Trust – Play – Review – Seattle Rep – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen Eboni Booth’s "Primary Trust" #play by @Seattle Rep. Starring Stephen Tyrone Williams. Featuring @Justin Huertas on the keys, guitar, cello, ukelele, etc. Must be nice to have an imaginary friend like @Andrew. Script w/ heart & beautiful characters portraying universal human experiences. Only 4 more performances left till 11/27 closing. Review: showsiveseen.com/10431 Director: Kaytlin McIntyre Stage Manager: @Melissa Hamasaki #theatre #showsiveseen #growth #friendship #connection #babySteps ♬ Only Human – Acoustic – Ryan Mack

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Eboni Booth’s Primary Trust play by Seattle Rep. Starring Stephen Tyrone Williams. Featuring Justin Huertas on the keys, guitar, cello, ukelele, etc. Must be nice to have an imaginary friend like Andrew Lee Creech. Script with heart and beautiful characters portraying universal human experiences.

Recommendation:
See it.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): An awkward man in a sad lonely repetitive existence with an imaginary friend is forced to take baby steps to grow and come out of his shell.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Kenneth has lived his entire life in the same small town. Every day he works at the bookstore, then shares happy hour Mai Tais with his best friend. And so what if his best friend is imaginary? Every day is the same, just the way Kenneth likes it—until he is laid off and his world is turned upside down. Thrown out of his comfort zone, Kenneth must find the courage to face his biggest fear: change. This 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner and intimate, offbeat new comedy by Eboni Booth tells a surprising story about one man’s leap of faith and the friends he makes along the way.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: None

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes, there was live instrumental music from Justin Huertas

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: 4

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 90 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Imaginary Friend: Although it was a coping defense mechanism (and honestly a mild psychotic break), having an imaginary friend like Bert (played by Andree Lee Creech) must be nice – a personal cheerleader and confidant all in one.
Cast Doubling: Allyson Lee Brown and Rob Burgess masterfully curated a diverse range of characters to life. Rob first portrayed a grumpy boss with a heart of gold, then shifted to a kind supervisor bank manager still stuck reminiscing about his college football days, before switching gears to play a dainty waiter. One of the funniest moments was when Allyson had a lively argument with herself, seamlessly switching between her roles as Corrina and her coworker Duncan.
Script: At first, the script seemed to meander about nothing, but it gradually blossomed into a beautiful exploration of universal human experiences—loneliness, loss, grief, trauma, separation anxiety, and fear of change. I loved was how it encouraged taking baby steps toward growth, stepping out of your comfort zone, and putting yourself out there in the hope of genuine human connection, fulfillment, and success.
Live Music: The live instrumental music was a nice touch to the play, and of course, I’d always prefer it instead of a recorded track. Additionally, Justin Huertas is incredibly talented with his many musical abilities. But I question whether the live music was a necessary expense for this production. Honestly, the experience wouldn’t have been diminished without it. And I say this as someone who hates attending musicals without live accompaniment.
Favorite Line: “That man [Stephen King] doesn’t want me to sleep with the lights off.”

Rant(s)

Bell: The bell sound effect between scenes might have been slightly overplayed.

Theatre Company: Seattle Rep

Venue: Leo Kreielsheimer Theater at Seattle Rep

Venue Physical Address: 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price Range: $60-85

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official pages about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances

Dates: October 24 to November 27, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and paid street parking. I usually park on Mercer to the West of 1st Ave. There’s usually also plentiful street parking around Safeway. If there’s an event in Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena, street parking is usually limited and much more expensive.

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Bronwen Houck.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.