Jesse Tyler Ferguson Shines in 'Tru' at Menier Chocolate Factory, But Script Falls Short

The Menier Chocolate Factory is currently hosting "Tru," an 85-minute monologue performance starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, which has garnered a five-star rating for its execution. However, the script, which delves into the life of the celebrated author Truman Capote, is described as a three-star piece, a narrative that the reviewer feels deserves a more compelling text. Truman Capote, a towering figure in 20th-century American literature, experienced his most significant creative zenith between the publication of the charming novella "Breakfast At Tiffany's" in 1958 and the groundbreaking "nonfiction-novel" "In Cold Blood" in 1965. "Breakfast At Tiffany's," a novella that captured the public imagination with its iconic character Holly Golightly, cemented Capote's reputation for elegant prose and keen social observation. "In Cold Blood," published in 1965, revolutionized literary journalism by applying novelistic techniques to a true crime story, earning widespread critical acclaim and commercial success, and is considered a seminal work in the "nonfiction-novel" genre. Following this period of immense literary achievement, Capote's life became increasingly overshadowed by struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. He embarked on a protracted, two-decade-long endeavor to write "Answered Prayers," a highly anticipated, purportedly autobiographical novel intended to be his magnum opus. Despite the immense anticipation surrounding this work, Capote was unable to complete it in its entirety during his lifetime. Early chapters of "Answered Prayers" were published in Esquire magazine, but these excerpts proved to be Capote's undoing in high society. The wealthy and influential socialites, who were thinly veiled characters in the published sections, felt betrayed by what they perceived as a violation of confidence and a distortion of their lives, leading to Capote's ostracization from the very circles he so adeptly chronicled. The production at the Menier Chocolate Factory, which runs until November 14, is further enhanced by Paul Farnsworth's immersive set design, which effectively transports the audience into Capote's world. The review suggests that Ferguson's powerful and nuanced performance, coupled with Farnsworth's evocative staging, deserved a script that matched their caliber, lamenting the current text as a "Broadway museum piece" – a piece of historical significance but lacking contemporary theatrical vitality. The play's narrative arc focuses on Capote's subsequent decline, highlighting how his personal demons significantly hampered his ability to bring his ambitious final literary project to fruition, a poignant contrast to his earlier triumphs.