"Tru" - short for Truman - as written by Jay Presson Allen, is a one-man play that takes place in 1975 at the swank New York City apartment (870 United Nations Plaza, to be exact) of homosexual writer Truman Capote during the Christmas holidays. Although he's got plenty of money to burn, he's not exactly in a celebratory mood. His rich society friends have abandoned him. He's taking drugs. He's drinking too much. He's pissed off. He's unhappy. He's also in a very bad funk because he's facing exile from his treasured social elite after penning a tell-all story about their scandalous exploits, their sexual interludes, their obsession with wealth and their many, many indiscretions.
First performed in December, 1989 at Broadway's Booth Theatre, this 90-minute comedy-drama cast Robert Morse ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying") as Truman Capote, a feat that found the actor having a field day for eight performances a week reenacting moments from Tru's life prancing crazily about, talking boldly to the audience, making glorious and gossipy phone calls to friends, thrashing tacky Christmas gifts that were delivered to his doorstep on Christmas Eve and gushing madly about the joys of being homosexual and being able to get anyone he wanted into bed for some pretty hot gay sex.
Using that impish, high-pitched effeminate voice that was unmistakably Capote, offset by mannerisms, expressions and body language that was true to the writer's very own persona, Morse not only had audience's begging for more (saw the play twice; once on Broadway and once on National Tour), but won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.
The success of "Tru" also came from Allen's dishy, articulate take on Capote's world. As playwright, she captured the aura of Capote and who he was, his love of people, his infamous talk show appearances, his obsession with being a famous celebrity, his outrageous nightlife experiences and his passion for writing such popular works as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "A Christmas Memory" and "In Cold Blood." At the same time, "Tru" is not a sensationalized gabfest. It comes packaged with involved and apt wit, resilience, emotion, grit and pain - all neatly woven into the fabric of the playwright's much-acclaimed and oft-performed theatrical piece.
"All my life, I've told things about myself that would make a baboon blush blue. Didn't those people understand they were talking to an artist? Isn't all fair in war and art?"
Truman Capote
In Norwalk, where "Tru" is being revived at the intimate and inviting Music Theatre of Connecticut venue, the production itself smartly projects the character, the style and the talent of the man himself, his overt eccentricities, his dazzle and his conversational brilliance. It dances. It cajoles. It entertains. It surprises. It produces giggles. It gets you thinking. It also willingly pushes you to the edge of your seat clinging to get word, every tick, every joke, every revelation and every mood swing.
That said, this revival of "Tru" is absolutely brilliant.
For Musical Theatre of Connecticut, Kevin Connors has staged many important, critically acclaimed plays and musicals including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Ragtime," "Next to Normal," "Cabaret," "Master Class" and "Evita." With "Tru," he crafts an exciting, intuitive production that recalls Capote's grand and gaudy life - long before his downfall - with spontaneity, position, amplitude, vulgarity and glitter. More importantly, he takes chances. He dances to his own beat. He plays by the rules and sometimes breaks them just for kicks. He is a master craftsman and entertainer. He is sensitive to the needs of the actor and his development through rehearsal and live performance. He is always full of great ideas and theatrical values and influences. He also loves what he does, which, here with "Tru" comes full circle.
The casting of Jeff Gurner as Truman Capote on Connors' part is a stroke of genius. It's a 5 STAR performance that makes you completely forget about the one given decades ago by Robert Morse. And from an actor's perspective, it is rich in color, nuance, boldness, truthfulness and integrity. It's also one of those dramatic and comic turns where both director and actor unite as one, completely in sync with the material, the concept and stylization set forth by the playwright and the inherent connection between actor and audience. Here, Gurner commands the stage with delicious effeteness, raw, realistic self-hatred, remarkable grandstanding, tailored sophistication and intellectual vogue. As actor, he loves being on stage and we love watching him.
One of the best plays of the year, "Tru" is thrillingly plugged into the memory and mindset that was and is Truman Capote. It seduces and charms its audience - in person or at home - with 90 minutes of candid emotion, determination and heartache. It gives director Kevin Connors yet another opportunity to rise to the top of the leaderboard as one of regional theatre's most perceptive and prolific directors. And finally, it allows actor Jeff Gurner to give theatergoers a dynamic, ovation-worthy performance that lingers long after the play is over.Tru" runs now through May 9 at Music Theatre of Connecticut (509 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT). Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $28 for live streamed performances. A link is provided to ticket holders one hour before the performance. In person tickets range from $39 to $70 and can be purchased by calling the box-office at (203) 454-3883.
All production photos of "Tru" are courtesy of Alex Mongillo.
Excellent article.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Nadia. Your kind words mean a lot to me.
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