Amina Robinson, who's directing the production for Philadelphia Theatre Company, says sometimes this show is "a drama," but it can also be "pretty wild and funny."
The story follows Kenneth, played by Newton Buchanan.
"Kenneth was working at a bookstore," says Buchanan. "Loses his job and so he's left kind of trying to figure out, what does he do next?"
"He doesn't have a lot of friends," says Robinson.
He spends a lot of time at Wally's bar, drinking Mai Tais.
"The person he spends a lot of time with at Wally's is his best friend, Bert," says Buchanan. "He's kind of the only friend he really has."
"Kenneth dealt with some early trauma in life and Bert came into his life and helped him a great deal," says Robinson.
Bert is played by Akeem Davis.
"He's the one person that he can count on," says Buchanan.
While at Wally's, he meets the servers, all played by the same actress, Taysha Marie Canales.
"Specifically, he meets a person who's a new employee. Her name's Corrina," says Buchanan. "She represents to him kind of new beginnings and possibilities."
He lands a new job at a bank and starts to excel at work.
David Ingram plays the bank owner as well as the waiter at the French restaurant where Kenneth goes with Corrina.
"This play does deal with how small acts of kindness can impact people in really great ways," says Robinson. "And Corrina does that. She's that kind of person who's just like, I'm here and I see you and let's talk."
"Friends are very important to how we go through life, how we get through things," says Buchanan.
"They sort of are teaching him how to pick up the pieces," says Robinson.
"He finds community. He finds himself again," says Buchanan. "He finds a way to carry on even though life is full of turbulence and troubles."
"Kenneth sort of represents human perseverance and sort of the power that we have to recover from trauma," says Robinson. "I want people to leave feeling like, everything's actually gonna be okay."
Philadelphia Theatre Company is staging "Primary Trust" through October 5 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
For more information:
Philadelphia Theatre Company - "Primary Trust"
Link to Tickets at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Suzanne Roberts Theatre
480 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146