Ending their record-breaking season, Crow’s Theatre partners with the Grand Theatre to co-produce the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, Eboni Booth’s deeply affirming Primary Trust.
Primary Trust tells the story of Kenneth, who has lived a safe and comfortable life alone, working at a local bookstore. When the store suddenly closes, however, Kenneth is forced to confront the fears and unspoken grief that have held him down.
Directed by Cherissa Richards
Featuring
Durae McFarlane as Kenneth
Peter N. Bailey as Bert
Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah as Corrina
Ryan Hollyman as Clay/Sam
Danilo Reyes as Musician
The show comes to life quite vividly thanks to the creative team, including set designer Julie Fox, costume designer Rachel Forbes, sound designer Thomas Ryder Payne, and lighting designer Imogen Wilson.
Interview with Actor Durae McFarlane
Hye’s Post Show Thoughts
Through Kenneth’s story, Primary Trust explores the themes of loneliness, grief, and need for connection, but it does so with careful measure which also includes warmth and humour.
I enjoyed the interactions amonb the cast members, who truly seem to genuinely embody their respective characters. McFarlane give us a quirky, complex yet charming Kenneth. Alongside the likes of Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah as Corrina and Peter N. Bailey as Bert, who are a joy to watch, we become intimately invested in how their friendship with Kenneth will unfold.
Ultimately, Kenneth must take emotional risks and open himself up to others. And honestly, this is a great reminder for us all. Everyone in the audience felt a connection to those on stage in some way or another. There was laughter and tears; quite cathartic in my opinion.
Primary Trust is a gentle, tender and quietly profound play about loneliness, friendship, grief and the courage it takes to reconnect with community after life has knocked us sideways.
The messages in the show feel very timely in the way it reminds us about the importance of small acts of kindness. Primary Trust will leave you feeling ‘all the feels’ in a good way. Highly recommend it.
Primary Trust continues until June 21st in the Guloien Theatre with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sundays at 1:30pm. For tickets and additional information visit crowstheatre.com.
Production photos by Dahlia Katz.
