Truman Capote was one of a kind.
Born in New Orleans in 1924, he was raised for a time by aunts and cousins in Alabama after his father and his mother—just 16 when he was born—abandoned him. Some speculate that those experiences led to his high-pitched, child-like speaking voice. They certainly influenced his writing and his tormented personal life.
Portraying such a larger-than-life figure in a two-hour, one-man play is a daunting task. Thankfully, veteran actor Chuck Yates is more than up to the challenge in Desert Ensemble Theatre’s latest production.
Written by Jay Presson Allen, Tru is adapted from Capote’s own words and works. It’s an intimate portrait of a brilliant, troubled man who drowns his pain in alcohol. The play premiered on Broadway on Dec. 14, 1989, starring Robert Morse, whose performance went on to win the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.
The play is set in Capote’s New York apartment just before Christmas in 1975. The writer has been ostracized by many of his socialite friends after spilling their secrets in an as-yet unpublished book, Answered Prayers, excerpts of which have just been published in Esquire.
With his glass of vodka never far away, Capote speaks on the phone, into a tape recorder for a biographer, and sometimes directly to the audience. He rails about fame, loyalty and broken friendships. He doesn’t understand why those in his circle should be shocked that he’s used their peccadilloes as fodder for his book. He’s a writer, after all: “I am an artist, and I’m writing a masterpiece, and they are wrong.”
DET’s production, ably directed by David Youse, features a warm, cozy set, including a cheerful Christmas tree. Congrats to set designer Thomas L. Valach for setting just the right tone.
When an actor is by himself on the stage for two hours, he carries the weight of the show on his shoulders. Casting is crucial. Yates, who first took on the role 12 years ago with Coyote Stageworks, is perfect. With a slightly receding hairline, a bit of a paunch, and Capote’s signature glasses and chapeau, Yates does look the part. He also nails Capote’s odd way of speaking.
But superseding all of that is his acting: Yates absolutely immerses himself in the role. He tosses off the one-liners with great aplomb:
“For every year you spend in California, you lose two points of your IQ.”
“I have always been an object of desire.”
He also breaks your heart. His monologue about seeing small dogs in cages in Hong Kong, being sold on the street as food, is powerful, as is his recounting of being laughed at as a child for wishing to be a girl. Putting him in a spotlight on an otherwise darkened stage during these moments is an excellent touch.
Yates is a consummate actor and never fails to draw in the audience. Yes, we laugh at the humor, but when he dives into one of those heavy monologues, you can hear a pin drop. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a theater that eerily quiet. Even during a two-minute stretch when Yates says nothing—he’s just moving around his apartment, checking the Christmas tree or putting on a hat—the audience is riveted.
Yates makes Capote’s childhood pain and the sting of his friends’ rejection palpable. Those are feelings with which many of us can relate. It is a master class in acting.
A successful one-man show is a partnership between the actor and director, and both must be highly skilled to pull it off. Kudos to director Youse for guiding Yates through this stellar performance. The lights (Jason Smith), sound (Andrew M. Edwards) and costumes (Jim Lapidus and Chuck Yates) are all spot on.
Truman Capote was a fascinating character. He was, for a time, a prolific writer (including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood and numerous essays) and, according to many, “an odd little man.” He could be a loyal friend, and then stab people in the back with public betrayals. He drowned his sorrows in booze and cigarettes, and later added tranquilizers and cocaine to the mix. He died in 1984 at the age of 59, and Answered Prayers—the book key to the plot of Tru—was published posthumously in 1987.
If you’re curious about Capote, want to see some superb acting, or are just in the mood for a very satisfying theater experience, I highly recommend DET’s production of Tru. You won’t be sorry.
Desert Ensemble Theatre’s production of Tru will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, through Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $40. For tickets or more information, call 760-565-2476, or visit www.desertensembletheatre.org.
