Jesse Tyler Ferguson stars in a revival of the play Tru

Stepping Into the Mind of Truman Capote

Jesse Tyler Ferguson is portraying Truman Capote at the Menier Chocolate Factory theatre in a revival of the 1989 play Tru. Written by Jay Presson Allen, the play is set toward the end of Capote’s life, following his literary success with works like In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The production finds the writer unhappy and dependent on substances, with his famous caustic wit turned acrid. Ferguson previously performed the role off-Broadway earlier in the year. He notes that taking on the character is a gift that allows him to explore Capote’s complex psychology. He’s a really layered, fascinating character, Ferguson says, as reported by The Independent. He had so many interesting quirks. Obviously everyone knows about his very strange speaking voice but there was also just so much psychologically going on with him.

A Personal Connection to the Role

Several notable actors have previously played Capote and adopted his high-registered, nasal drawl, including Robert Morse during the original staging of Tru and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won an Academy Award for the 2005 biopic Capote. Ferguson points out a distinct difference in his own casting compared to those celebrated predecessors. One thing about these celebrated performances of Truman Capote was that none of these men who have played him have been gay, Ferguson states, according to The Independent. Truman Capote was, you know, a very open, out homosexual. So there’s a layer of personal story there, about how it felt to be someone who had to hide who they were, to tiptoe around people, and then came to New York and blossomed more as a person. I feel like there are parallels between Capote’s journey and mine, just in terms of coming out as a gay man.

Reflecting on Age and Career After Modern Family

Reflecting on his personal life, Ferguson marked his 50th birthday approximately 11 months prior to the interview. He admits his perspective on aging has shifted over time. When I was a kid, 50 years old just seemed like… you’re done, he recalls. Of course, now that I am 50, I don’t feel that way at all. The actor played the meticulous lawyer Mitchell Pritchett on the hit sitcom Modern Family, which premiered in 2009. When he was first cast, Ferguson believed he looked too young to portray a parent, prompting him to grow facial hair to age his appearance. Today, as an older father raising two young children at home, he notes that he simply does not have the option to feel old. Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his father worked as a microbiologist and his mother as a nurse, Ferguson found the local culture challenging as a young person interested in the arts. Though his parents did not work in the creative industries, they supported his interests. He eventually left the area, noting that it was a place he knew he would not live forever.