TheatreWorks stages Pulitzer-winning 'Primary Trust'

 

Bert (Kenny Scott, left) listens as Kenneth (William Thomas Hodgson) is interviewed by the bank manager (Dan Hiatt). (Kevin Berne photo)

Kenneth (William Thomas Hodgson) is 38 years old and works in a bookstore in Cranberry, N.Y.

As depicted in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production of Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Primary Trust.” Kenneth has only one friend, Bert (Kenny Scott).

The two of them hang out at a tiki bar, Wally’s, and drink mai tais served by a succession of waitresses, all played by Rolanda D. Bell.

There’s just one catch. Bert is just an imaginary friend to Kenneth, who was orphaned at age 8 and bounced around thereafter.

When the bookstore owner (Dan Hiatt) decides to close it and move to Arizona for health reasons, Kenneth loses his job.

However, the manager (Hiatt), of a local bank, Primary Trust, hires him as a teller. Soon he’s doing well in his new job.

On the other hand, Kenneth becomes concerned and then upset when Bert no longer shows up.

Eventually Kenneth finds himself relating to other people and realizing that he doesn’t need Bert. He’s doing quite well on his own.

Directed by Jeffrey Lo, the play sometimes seems to move slowly, but it gains momentum.

The four actors all do well, as does Jonathan Erman, who plays piano at Wally’s.

The play is well served by Christopher Fitzer’s scenic design, Becky Bodurtha’s costumes, Steven B. Mannshardt’s lighting and Gregory Robinson’s sound.

Running about 90 minutes without intermission, “Primary Trust” will continue through March 29 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

 

 

 

Hillbarn stages 'Songs for a New World'

Sidney Matthew Román (left) is Man 1, Sophie Oda is Woman I, Coleton Schmitto is Man 2 and Jessica Coker is Woman 2. (Tracy Martin photo)
 

Although “Songs for a New World” has been around since 1995, it has a contemporary feel, as shown in the production by Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory.

It’s not a drama as such. There’s no dialogue, nor are there named characters in the songs by Jason Robert Brown.

Instead, the performers go by Woman 1 and 2, and Man 1 and 2. Together and individually they sing songs meant to convey ideas such as the hope that brought people across the sea to a new world, as expressed in “On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492,” performed by Man 1 (Sidney Matthew Román).

After that there are songs of despair, such as the company’s “The River Won’t Flow,” which refers to homelessness.

There also are songs of hope, of love lost and regained, and the human cost of war.

Six panels with projected images are suspended over the stage in Eric Olson’s scenic design as a way to illustrate and amplify the feelings of the songs.

The floor is painted with phrases like “Ocean of Despair,” “The Lonely Desert,” “Delta of Desire” and others.

Much credit for the projections goes to Cindy Goldfield, They become quite contemporary in some of the latter songs, especially “Hear My Song,” which is accompanied by photos from the protests that followed recent ICE actions in Minneapolis, including the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Besides designing the projections, Goldfield skillfully directed this production and its movements.

The four cast members are all good singers and actors. Besides Román as Man 1, they are Coleton Schmitto as Man 2, Sophie Oda as Woman 1 and Jessica Coker as Woman 2.

Music director and keyboardist Jad Bernardo directs two other musicians on an upstage platform.

The costumes are by Stephanie Dittbern with lighting by Pamila Gray and sound by Jeff Mockus.

Because this is live theater, glitches sometimes arise. Such was the case opening night when Román’s mike suddenly went out during his “King of the World,” but he continued singing as if nothing were wrong. His mike worked thereafter.

Another more subtle problem was a backlight seen on the audience’s left that flickered throughout the show.

Running about 90 minutes without intermission, “Songs for New World” will continue through May 17 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.

For tickets and information, call (650) 340-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.