"Primary Trust" ★ ★ ★ ★

First things first: We loved this show. It is rare that a drama grabs us from the beginning and holds us to the end. "Primary Trust" is that show.

Two reasons jump out: the script by Eboni Booth and our main character Kenny, played by William Thomas Hodgson. We know something is up with Kenny, a young man who spends every night in a tiki bar drinking 2-for-1 mai-tais with his best friend Bert. Slowly we figure out that Bert exists only in Kenny's mind and Kenny is drinking both of those 2-for-1s. Ms. Booth dangles the reason in front of us but it is never spelled out until the very end.

To bring us with him, Hodgson must make us believe having a $18k/year job as a bank teller at Primary Trust, in a nondescript small town in upstate New York -- matters. And it does matter. We feel ourselves being drawn into the quiet lives of every character. 

Kenny Scott brings a lot of empathy to the unreal Bert and Dan Hiatt is his always wonderful self playing several characters, including Kenny's boss at Primary Trust. Rolanda D. Bell plays an uncountable number of servers at Wally's. Eventually, her friendship becomes the key for Kenny to loosen himself from his painful past. 

This is an award-winning performance for William Thomas Hodgson. Kudos to the entire cast. 

RATINGS ★ ★ ★ ★

The San Francisco Theater Blog grants "Primary Trust" FOUR STARS. Writing, directing (spot-on, by Jeffrey Lo), acting and sets earn one star each. We like the illuminated stars. We like the cool map. We like the whole danged thing. 

"Primary Trust"

Lucie Stern Theatre

1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

Through Mar. 29, 2026

$34-$115