Displaying items by tag: Good People

Welcome to Southie, a Boston neighborhood where a night on the town means a few rounds of bingo, this month’s paycheck covers last month’s bills, and Margie Walsh has just been let go from another job. Facing eviction, could an old fling who made it out of Southie be a ticket to a new start? Margie is about to risk what little she has left to find out. With his humorous glow, David Lindsay-Abaire explores the struggles, shifting loyalties and unshakeable hopes that come with having next to nothing in America.

Good People is David Lindsay-Abaire's most personal play. Set in "Southie", the working-class neighborhood where he grew up, Good People shines a light on socioeconomic disparities, luck vs. meritocracy, and what it truly means to be "good people."   In David Lindsay-Abaire’s own words, "I have a deep love and respect for the people from my neighborhood. I waited to write it until I could do so responsibly and respectfully, aiming to challenge stereotypes by portraying my friends and relatives as "salt of the earth people”.

Ticket info:

Location of show: Theater Wit (Theater One), 1229 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL 60657

Dates: Running July 17-August 23    Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm

Opening Day: Sunday, July 19 at 3pm

Cast:  Jodi Kingsley (Margaret), Bryan Breau (Mike), Sandra Adjoumani (Kate), Maggie Cain (Dottie), Wendy Hayne (Jean), Steven Horn (Stevie)

Understudies: Sarah Sapperstein (Margaret), Tim Ashby (Mike), Tiffani Grace (Kate), Judith Laughlin (Dottie) Amber Dow (Jean), Wyatt DeLair (Stevie).

Joining Lauren Berman (Producer/Director), is Beep Trefts (Production Stage Manager), Kevin Rolfs (Set Designer), Levi Wilkins (Lighting Designer), Petter Wahlback (Sound Designer) Anika Splettstoeszer (Costume Designer), Emma Jean Golden (Props Designer), Carrie Hardin (Dialect Coach), Ollie Van Den Heuvel (Assistant Stage Manager), Cammerrron Baits (Social Media Manager),  Brittany Brown (Casting Director).

4 Chairs Theatre’s Mission:

4 Chairs Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre committed to providing a safe space for actors and audiences of all ages, cultures, genders, races, abilities and walks of life.  Our performances breathe humanity, empathy and truth.  We amplify voices that are often excluded and uncover hearts that are often hidden. By replacing "You're too..." and “You'll never..." with "You're enough" and "You will…" we are determined to change the world, one show at a time. Pull up a chair. You can sit with us.

The Buffalo Theatre Ensemble brings a very thought provoking play to the stage. David Lindsay-Abaire penned this two-act performance and the small theatre was perfect for the story.

Finely directed by Connie Canaday Howard, Good People highlights a strong ensemble that exhibits a magical chemistry onstage. The story line was very well thought out and while I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, the theme, as one might guess from the title, was really about people. We are reminded in this story set mostly in the south end of Boston, that some are not as good as they appear and some are good without the appearance. 

The lead character Margaret is played by Amelia Barrett. She is a working class single mother with a child who lives in a cheap apartment, living paycheck to paycheck. Margaret and her friends love to play Bingo. They help each other out. That’s what friends are for. Her friends include her landlady Dottie, played by Annie Slavinski. Benedict L. Slabik II plays her former boss, who is also a friend. Jean played by Kelli Walker rounds out the Bingo crew.

They call themselves “Southies”, referring to the south end of Boston. Their accents are much different than the stereotypical Boston accent you might think of when thinking of that area. It is almost like comparing different English accents. They also call the upper-class people “Lace Curtains”, which I thought was funny.

Margaret runs into an old flame, Mike, played by Bryan Burke. He has done rather well for himself. Now an endocrinologist, he lives in a nicer area. He has joined the “Lace Curtains”, but he, like most people, never escapes his roots. His wife Kate is played by Raina Lynn. There is some controversy over the color of her skin. The play isn’t about racial tension but the topic exists in a sub-plot. In some ways, this underlying theme drives the story as much as its main plot.

The first act is light-hearted and funny. It is served more as an introduction to the characters, all of which appear in the first few minutes apart from Mike’s wife Kate. You see the world they live in and how they think.

Act II is another story, mostly set in the house of Mike and Kate. Good People shows us that things are not always as they appear and that class to which one is associated has nothing to do with that of being a good person. That’s the moral of the story and the message is there without looking too hard. 

The play is well-acted and thought out. The audience is never bored waiting for the plot to grow. It takes off from the start. Each acting performance is highly enjoyable as is the story and the message meaningful. I know a few “Good People” who could benefit from watching this performance. Art is a great teaching tool, even if the audience doesn’t always realize when it is happening. If you feel like you need a well-conceived night’s entertainment, this could be just the ticket. There are a few foul words in there, but clearly not meant to be offensive. This is a production that might just open your eyes a bit, while at the same time providing a few good laughs.

Good People is being performed at Playhouse Theatre in the McIninch Art Center in Glen Ellyn, IL through March 5th. For more show information click here.