''Tru'' is a 1989 play by
Jay Presson Allen, adapted from the words and works of
Truman Capote.
Background
Adapted from the words and works of
Truman Capote, ''Tru'' is set in the writer's
New York City apartment at 870 United Nations Plaza the week before Christmas 1975. An excerpt from Capote's infamous unfinished
roman à clef, ''
Answered Prayers'', recently has been published in ''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
''. Having recognized thinly veiled versions of themselves,
Manhattan socialites such as
Babe Paley and
Slim Keith turn their backs on the man they once considered a close confidant. Alone and lonely, Capote — soothing himself with pills, vodka, cocaine, and chocolate truffles — muses about his checkered life and career in what is essentially a two-act
monodrama.
Production
After 11 previews, the
Broadway production
Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...
of ''Tru'', directed by Allen, opened on December 14, 1989 at the
Booth Theatre, where it ran for 297 performances.
Robert Morse starred as Truman Capote.
In his review in ''
The New York Times'',
Frank Rich said, "Intentionally or not, ''Tru'' is a creep show: a hybrid of
necrophilia
Necrophilia, also known as necrophilism, necrolagnia, necrocoitus, necrochlesis, and thanatophilia, is sexual attraction towards or a sexual act involving Cadaver, corpses. It is classified as a paraphilia by the World Health Organization (WHO) ...
and tame fan-magazine journalism that doesn't so much rekindle fascination with a troubled writer as reawaken the willies prompted by those disoriented talk-show appearances … that were the desperate final act of his career.
"In place of a life portrait with depth, ''Tru'' settles for its wind-up
Mme. Tussaud's caricature of the wrecked 1975 model Capote. This Tru is sporadically funny — if one shares Mrs. Allen's taste for the campiest of anecdotes and one-liners — and rarely boring. But since the soul of the younger Capote doesn't shine through as Mr. Morse's youthful spirit does, the potentially touching drama of decay is lost. The complex, possibly tragic figure of a wasted artist is replaced by a maudlin, some might say antediluvian, stereotype of ''
Boys in the Band'' vintage."
In 1992, Morse recreated his performance for the
PBS series ''
American Playhouse''.
Morse also directed a production of the play in
Toronto in 1996, starring Canadian actor
Louis Negin.
Accolades
Robert Morse won the
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and the
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show.
For his performance in the 1992 ''
American Playhouse'' presentation of ''Tru'', Morse won the
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
TRU (AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE), Television Academy
/ref>
References
External links
* {{IBDB title, 4550, Tru
1989 plays
Plays by Jay Presson Allen
Broadway plays
Plays based on real people
Plays for one performer
Monodrama
Plays set in New York City
Plays based on novels
Cultural depictions of Truman Capote
American Playhouse