“Primary Trust”

*****  Have you ever experienced something so traumatic that your life changed? In living the number of years I have lived ( I am, after all, an “octogenarian”) I have witnessed many people experiencing things that were life- altering. In the story that unfolds in Eboni Booth’s “Primary Trust” we meet Kenneth ( played to perfection by Namir Smallwood). When first we meet him and he introduces his town to us, he also introduces us to his “best friend” Bert ( deftly handled by Charles Andrew Gardner). They go to the same restaurant where they enjoy Mai Tai’s and comradery.

As the story unfolds, we learn a great deal about Kenneth, his bosses ( played with great detail by Fred Zimmerman), his other contacts ( an amazing array of characters, played to perfection by Christiana Clark) and last but not least there is a musician on the stage ( Mike Przygoda) who plays several instruments and in a few spots becomes a character in the town of Cranberry New York ( a medium sized suburb of Rochester).

What we learn about Kenneth and his best friend Bert is powerful. I don’t like giving away important facts that might alter the play’s affect on you, so I will tell you that their relationship is one where Bert entered Kenneth’s life at a time of great despair and need. He made Kenneth feel whole again and helped him through a very rough period. That is all I want to tell you so that I will not spoil your following the story.

SPOILER ALERT: all is not what it seems to be and often people in need find or create illusions to help them get through the tough times!

Malkia Stampley’s keen direction of this cast on a set designed by Lex Liang is smooth and allows the audience to feel as if they have broken the fourth wall. The music composed to work with this story by Mike Przygoda and Brandon Reed is fitting and the lighting (Heather Gilbert) is sheer perfection. The costumes were fairly simple, but effective (Yvonne Miranda). This was 90 minutes of high quality story-telling that brought us a great story about friendship, love, adjustment and work ethics. You may leave the Goodman’s Owen Theatre in need of a Mai Tai ( FYI- Petterino’s, next door, makes a mean one), but of greater importance, you will leave the theater with a smile on your face and a good feeling in your heart.

“Primary Trust” will continue thru November 3rd with performances as follows:

Sun, Oct 20:2:00pm

Tue, Oct 22:7:30pm

Wed, Oct 23:7:30pm

Thu, Oct 24:7:30pm

Fri, Oct 25:7:30pm

Sat, Oct 26:2:00pm & 7:30pm

Sun, Oct 27:2:00pm & 7:30pm

Wed, Oct 30:7:30pm

Thu, Oct 31:2:00pm & 7:30pm

Fri, Nov 1:7:30pm

Sat, Nov 2:2:00pm & 7:30pm

Sun, Nov 3:2:00pm

The Goodman Theatre is located at 170 N. Dearborn.

Price: $30-$65

Stage: Owen Theatre

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Box Office: 312-443-3800

Running Time: 1hr, 20mins

www.goodmantheatre.org

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Primary Trust”