Pulitzer winner 'Primary Trust' explores loneliness, growth

NEW YORK THEATER GUIDE

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Primary Trust" plays Feb. 6-22 at The Arts Factory.

“Primary Trust” gets deep into loneliness.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play takes the stage at The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St. Feb. 6-22. Ticket prices are available online; $20 for students and teachers, $30 for regular admission.

“Primary Trust,” written by Eboni Booth and directed by Tiffany Jackson, follows the quiet life of Kenneth, who navigates loneliness and job loss. The audience will get to intimately walk through these learning experiences, which Jackson says is like “The Truman Show” in that it views Kenneth’s life from every angle.

“When I originally read the script, it is so quiet in a beautiful way that I knew I had to be involved,” she said. “It’s done in such a beautiful way where you leave with hope instead of tragedy. There’s sadness because it's what we do, but you leave in such a way that I walked away thinking, ‘I know this kid.’”

Although the play explores heavier themes such as trauma, grief and mental health, it’s about growth and adaptation, showing how Kenneth doesn’t dwell on the negative.

The production may spark moments in the audience where Kenneth feels familiar. Jackson said, “It makes you pause and think how much you don't know about people's backstories as you interact with them. You could be interacting with the server at a restaurant, you could be interacting with someone at the bus stop, you just don't know their story.”

“Primary Trust” is intimate and vulnerable, allowing the audience to experience the characters’ awkward and broken moments. Jackson said that the actors commit to vulnerability and honesty in their performance is worth the watch.

“This show is not about the set,” she said. “There’s no big flashy thing that's going to happen. It’s a quiet, beautiful study in humanity, and these four people have laid it all on the line for you to see that up front and that is worth watching.” 

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