BWW Reviews: Almost Too Good To Be TRU! Coyote Stageworks Production A "Must See" At The Annenberg Theatre

Rumour has it that Coyote Stageworks' current production, which plays through Sunday at The Annenberg Theatre in Palm Springs, is a one of the desert's finest theatrical offerings of the season. I am happy to report - It's all TRU! Coyote Stageworks' founding artistic director, Chuck Yates, stars in this one-man (plus a few voices) tour de force that chronicles a couple of introspective nights in the life of Truman Capote, set in his New York Apartment just before Christmas in 1975, as an excerpt from his unfinished "tell all" novel Answered Prayers has just been published in Esquire and he has been abandoned by his closest confidantes. TRU is one of the first "Must See" productions I have endorsed in quite a while - perhaps since last time I attended a Coyote Stageworks production. It is a "drop everything if you can and buy a ticket" night in the theatre.

Yates turns is a blessedly non-caricature performance and, at all times, portrays Capote with an honest and restrained flamboyance that not only captures his trademark wit and intellect but also the insecurity, vulnerability and humanity that lurks beneath his surface. He delivers an extremely complex and layered performance with such ease that he is believable at every turn. For any actors in the audience, it is a master class in "monologue" as Yates deftly maneuvers through two hours of text completely alone on stage, capturing both the cerebral and emotional sides of Capote, and gives us all of the dramatic momentum you generally only get from multiple actors emotionally "bouncing off of each other". Much of the text is biographical back-story - some of it feels like it comes out of right field solely because the author felt we needed to know specific names and incidents in Capote's life, and not always expertly inserted into the narrative - however Yates manages to make is ever conversational, ever believable and ever TRU. Capote could easily have been played with high camp by an actor less-skilled, but Yates played the entire show with great truth and tremendous sincerity.

Larry Rabin's direction is spot on and it is apparent that there was tremendous synergy between actor and director in just how "un-directed" it all seems. A successful one-man monodrama is impossible without an expert director at the helm and Rabin's deft hand is felt from curtain to curtain. There were a few times, and only a few times, when the blocking seemed like aimless wandering -- as if actor and director had already exhausted where to go and what to do in this singular room in Capote's apartment - but both Rabin and Yates should be applauded for keeping the dramatic momentum going with nothing but mostly smart dialogue to prop them up.

Josh Clabaugh's scenic design is outstanding, appealing and effective. Phil Murphy's lighting design is equally appealing however the lighting changes to "down in one" every time Capote went into a more solemn or dramatic moment actually took me out of the moment rather than supporting it. It was unnecessary since the time of day was constant and made those moments seem contrived rather that "more dramatic" - Yates performance is strong enough to take the audience deeper into his memory and/or his emotional psyche without lighting effects to try to point the way. It was a distraction.

It is a blessing to have such a strong repertory company in the Coachella Valley that is constantly and consistently setting or raising the standard of excellence in local professional theatre. If there is any way for you to make plans, or change plans, to attend one of the final three performances of Coyote Stageworks' TRU, I urge you to do so. If not, be sure to get this wonderful theatre company on your radar and onto your day-planner for next season. For tickets or further information visit www.coyotestageworks.org