We saw Primary Trust at Lucie Stern Theatre. I enjoyed the original premise, though I found the pacing slow. The unexpected premiere party, with Mai Tais, chardonnay and cookies, was a pleasant surprise.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley staged Eboni Booth's Primary Trust, winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, at Lucie Stern Theatre from March 4 to 29, 2026.
Directed by Jeffrey Lo, the regional premiere followed a bookstore worker whose sudden unemployment pushes him beyond his familiar routines.
Plot
The Story: Meet Kenneth
Kenneth is a 38-year-old man who loves his life exactly as it is. For twenty years, he’s worked at the same used bookstore and spent every evening at Wally’s Tiki Bar, sipping Mai Tais with his best friend, Bert.
But there’s a twist: Bert is imaginary. When the bookstore suddenly closes, Kenneth’s carefully constructed world is shattered. Forced out of his comfort zone, he lands a job at "Primary Trust" bank. It’s here that the real story begins—a journey of navigating "real" friendships, facing long-buried childhood trauma, and learning that the world outside his routine might actually have a place for him.
What Makes This Production Special?
TheatreWorks has assembled an incredible team to bring the fictional town of Cranberry, NY, to life right here in Palo Alto:
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Award-Winning Pedigree: Fresh off its Pulitzer win, this is the Regional Premiere of a script that critics have called "near-perfect."
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A Stellar Cast: Led by William Thomas Hodgson as Kenneth and Kenny Scott as Bert, the production also features Bay Area favorites Dan Hiatt and Rolanda D. Bell.
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Live Music: Unlike many traditional plays, this production features an onstage musician (Jonathan Erman), adding a rhythmic, soulful layer to Kenneth’s internal world.
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The "Bell": Keep an ear out for the "call bell" used during the show. It’s a clever theatrical device that signals Kenneth’s shifts in memory and his attempts at "do-overs" in awkward social situations.
Production details — March 2026
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Where: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
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When: March 4 – March 29, 2026.
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Runtime: Approximately 95 minutes (no intermission).
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Tickets: Ranging from $34 to $115.
Final Thoughts
"Primary Trust" is a reminder that kindness—both from strangers and toward ourselves—is a powerful force. It’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, and ultimately, it’s deeply hopeful.
Primary Trust Review
Highlights
- An interesting plot (fairly original)
- Unexpected premiere party with Mai-Tai, chardonnay, & cookies
Lowlights
- The pacing was a bit slow
