Theater Review: 'Tru' at Brookfield Theatre's '3x3 Festival'

By Nancy Sasso Janis

Brookfield Theatre is presenting a unique One-Actor Show Festival this month.

In an ambitious stretch of theatrical arts, the theater is presenting three different one-actor shows on three successive weekends in October. Called the "3X3 Festival," each of the shows has been in rehearsal for nearly a full year.

One actor is on the stage for the entire duration of the full length play, considered to be the ultimate challenge for any performer.

The first featured show in this festival is "Tru" by Jay Presson Allen. I was able to attend the opening night on Friday, and the remaining performances are Oct. 7 and 8.

“Tru” is directed by Don Stitt who also stars in this intimate portrait of Truman Capote, the literary titan behind “In Cold Blood” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The script is adapted from the words and works of Truman Capote, and is set in the writer’s New York City apartment the week before Christmas in 1975.

The premise is that an excerpt from Capote’s infamous unfinished roman à clef, "Answered Prayers," recently has been published in the magazine "Esquire". Manhattan socialites have recognized the thinly veiled versions of themselves and have turned their backs on him. Alone and lonely, Capote (soothing himself with pills, vodka, cocaine, and chocolate truffles) muses about his checkered life and career.

The two acts are alternately funny and poignant and reveals much of Capote’s character in this turbulent time is his life. We see him speak on the telephone at times, but most of the time he speaks directly to the audience about his demons including his alcohol use, depression and anxiety. He expounds on his homosexuality, and even sings and dances. The performance ends with a striking monologue scene that Stitt masters.

Stitt is clearly the star of the show and embodies the strong character of Capote. He deftly avoids going over the top with his portrayal, but maintains Capote’s essence. Stitt demonstrates the strong commitment he made to this work with every move, and the crushing amount of lines that he had to master.

Stitt has been an actor for nearly 58 years, and has also been a singer, dancer, writer, choreographer, stand up comic and director. and playwright who has been featured in four Broadway musicals, including “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up” and “Buddy.” He appeared 20 times on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” and starred in countless commercials. In 2007 he presented his autobiographical solo-piece "The Voices in my Head Have Formed a Choir and Somebody's Singing Flat!" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

At the curtain call, Stitt expressed his thanks to his wife, Elizabeth Popiel, who serves as the voices of Betty, Western Union operator, Mrs. Ferguson and Jan, as well as being his stage manager/production manager/set designer/sound. “Mr. Stitt would like to express Special Thanks to Professor Emeritus Elizabeth Popiel, without whose creativity, hard work, loyal support, and artistry this endeavor would never have been possible.”

Popiel has designed sets for over 120 stage productions and was a professor of theatrical design and scenic art for 27 years at Western CT State University. She received several Emmys for “Good Morning America Weekend” where she serves as art director.

Stitt took care of the costume styling and Producer Lou Okell was in charge of good lighting. The sleek and beautifully decorated set designed by Popiel was constructed by Andrew Okell and Sharon Suchecki. Popiel also was in charge of sound.

“Tru” is presented with one intermission, with the first act set in Capote’s apartment in the U.N. Plaza on Dec. 23, 1975 and after the intermission, it is the next day, Christmas Eve afternoon in his apartment. The performance is still less than two hours in length. There is smoking, mentions of suicide and some strong language in the script.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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