Primary Trust, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavillion, Boston Center for the Arts, through October 11. 617-933-8600 or SpeakEasyStage.com or bostontheatrescene.com

Kenneth believes in friends. His best friend is named Bert. What makes Kenneth's belief unusual is that Bert seems to be imaginary. This mysterious relationship actually works in Eboni Booth's disarming 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play. SpeakEasy Stage has auspiciously opened its 35th season with an equally sharp and affecting staging of this clever work by the company's new artistic director Dawn M. Simmons. Some theatergoers may wonder where Kenneth's imaginary friendship is leading him, but Booth eventually reveals a convincing explanation for what appears to be a dependence on fantasy.

For much of "Primary Trust," 38-year-old Kenneth spends as much time drinking mai tais at Wally's, a local tiki bar in Cranberry—the play's upstate New York setting. In the insecure protagonist struggling to deal with the sudden decision of his employer Sam—for whom he has worked for almost 20 years to sell his bookstore. If his reliance on his curious relationship with Bert does not overcome a deep-seated insecurity, meeting a kind barista named Corrina not only results in a real friendship but also leads Kenneth serendipitously to a new position working at a bank with the same name as the play's title. Will Kenneth be able to trust his feelings for Corrina and appreciate the kindness of patient bank manager Clay? Playwright Booth makes Kenneth's emotional and psychological odyssey very compelling.

Under Simmons' strong direction, David J. Castillo captures Kenneth's initial diffidence and his growing confidence with Corrina and Clay. Arthur Gomez has all of the personality and exuberance as Bert that Kenneth perceives in him. Castillo and Gomez's scenes together have all of the persuasive feel of a real friendship. Luis Negron as Sam's resignation about closing the bookstore and Clay's big-heartedness as Kenneth's understanding employer. Best of all is Janelle Grace—who smoothly moves from playing captivating Corrina to distinctly capturing a variety of bank customers.

SpeakEasy's very appealing area premiere of "Primary Trust" should make audiences smile as much as Kenneth does at the end of the play. You can bank on it.