Detroit Repertory Theatre’s ‘Primary Trust’ Explores the Beauty in Grief
As theater critics, we’ve seen so many incredible musicals and plays at both the community and professional levels this year. The bright side is that we get to share our love of theater with everyone, but that also means that it can take quite a bit to leave us completely breathless. However, every once in a while, there’s a show that hits us so hard that we can’t stop thinking about it long after the curtain has closed and we’ve pulled away from the theater. Detroit Repertory Theatre’s production of Primary Trust is one of those shows.
From playwright Eboni Booth, Primary Trust’s exploration of grief and the aftermath of trauma is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. There’s a massive amount of power in the words that Booth has put to paper, and these actors at Detroit Repertory Theatre have brought to life, under the direction of Antoine McKay. There’s such beauty within this play, as the story of Kenneth and his journey of healing slowly reveals itself throughout Primary Trust. It’s breathtaking and heartbreaking from the jump, although not without humor, which ultimately leads to healing by the time the show comes to a close.
[Warning: Spoilers from Detroit Repertory Theatre’s Primary Trust are below!]
Kenneth and his best friend in Primary Trust
Kenneth (John Alexander Hatcher) is living his best life, albeit a simple life, when the play opens up. He works at a bookstore and seems to love it, as it provides him with enough money to pay his bills and spend time with his best friend Bert (T. Pharaoh Muhammad). Much like Groundhog Day, Kenneth’s schedule never changes, as each day is exactly the same as the day before. He goes to work with a smile on his face, and then throws back mai tais with his Burt at his local tiki bar well into the evening. While this isn’t near my dream day to keep repeating, at 38 years old, Kenneth seems content.
However, not everything is what it seems, and early in Primary Trust, we discover that Kenneth has a big secret. Bert isn’t real…he’s his imaginary friend. Instead of holding this twist until later in the play, Booth pulls back the veil early on, which provides a unique perspective on what happens later. While audiences can see Bert and his interactions with Kenneth, the rest of the characters can’t, leading many of them to assume he’s eccentric.
Why is Bert there? That’s not disclosed until later in the show, but it’s important that he is, as Kenneth is going to need a lot of support. With the closing of the bookstore, he’s in need of a new job quickly. At the recommendation of another, he applies for a teller position at Primary Trust, a bank in his small upstate New York town, which catalyzes a new life.
Between the new job and a growing relationship with Corrina (Rosie DeSantis), things are changing quickly. Can Kenneth balance his new reality with that of the one he’s living in his head?
Eboni Booth’s play is unlike any other
As a psychologist, I was deeply impacted by Primary Trust. While it uses a healthy dose of humor, this play explores grief in ways I haven’t yet seen. Everyone handles trauma differently, but this show showcases how Kenneth has found function within the dysfunction, which felt incredibly unique. While Kenneth still has an imaginary friend into his late 30s, he has remained relatively functional. He still gets up for his job and takes care of himself, so it isn’t like his life is completely falling apart.
However, he’s developed an abnormal coping mechanism, though as the show unfolds, you understand where it stems from. A great loss and a severe traumatic event as a child sent Kenneth’s life on a new trajectory, and he needed something to help him gain a sense of normalcy. Your heart breaks as the audience learns more about Bert’s origin and how the relationship with Kenneth comes to be.
Healing doesn’t happen all at one time or even linearly, which is one of the most important aspects of this show. Primary Trust looks at healing in an unconventional way, a way that even confused some audience members at first. There was plenty of nervous giggling, unsure of what to think of Kenneth having an imaginary friend, being almost 40. However, by the end of the show, you understand all the pieces that work together to help keep this individual moving through life.
In psychology, we frequently talk about systems that are built to function, even if they don’t necessarily make sense. Think of it as a clock, where all the cogs are in the wrong spots, but it’s still keeping appropriate time. That is Kenneth in so many ways. He’s definitely odd, and to some, having an imaginary friend is problematic. Even he understands that it’s odd, as he hides that piece of himself over and over again from those around him. However, even though he is different, he’s still functioning.
The beauty comes from when reality comes headfirst with the delusions, which Booth handles delicately. Kenneth begins to exhibit panic and anxiety at the prospect of losing his best friend, but also worries about losing the new and exciting life that he’s gaining. Those confrontations push Kenneth to grow, and provide Primary Trust with the emotional catharsis that it requires. Eboni Booth has made something special with this play, and that’s something everyone should witness.
Part of that beauty comes from the excellent acting of John Alexander Katcher, whose talent is superb to say the least. He’s struck a balance within Kenneth that other actors could easily get overwhelmed with, and he makes it look easy and smooth. You’re rooting for Kenneth to have it all and feel your heart ripping open as Hatcher delivers a career-defining performance. This production of Primary Trust rests on his shoulders, and Hatcher makes it worth the journey.
Rosie DeSantis and Patrick O’Lear add a lot of levity and heart to the show, with their many different characters throughout Primary Trust. While the emotions come from Corrina, the love interest and anchor to reality for Kenneth, the laughs come from the plethora of Wally Waiters and bank customers she brings to life. At times, DeSantis has to switch between people at breakneck speeds, but manages to do so with a level of professionalism that others would strive for. O’Lear’s characters tend to be much more steadfast, anchoring the real world in moments when it is needed most, a testament to his talent.
Never in my mind would I have thought I’d be crying over an imaginary friend, but the work that T. Pharaoh Muhammad brings to Primary Trust does just that. Bert is such a normal person, which is exactly what Kenneth needed for his life. He has a family and a job, yet always shows up when Kenneth needs him. Bert is a rock, providing strength to his friend when he needed it the most. Muhammad infuses his character with varying levels of strength, often making the difficult calls when no one else will. Muhammad’s performance moved me deeply, making him a highlight of the show.
Primary Trust is a win for Detroit Rep
All around, this play is a showcase of how to do theater right. Primary Trust is infused with so many different levels that you can’t help but leave thinking about the message at the heart of the story. Every single person is going through their own journey of healing, and sometimes that won’t make sense to anyone else. Booth’s play reminds us that kindness and understanding are more important than anything else, because they can heal the world.
Detroit Repertory Theatre has a fantastic season ahead, with shows such as The Piano Lesson and Eclipsed! Have you checked out this production of Primary Trust before? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all social media platforms!
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