The
award-wining play, “Good People,” has opened at Stage 3 Theatre in Sonora. Set in Boston’s tough South End, as well as
upscale suburb Chestnut Hill, the play pits those who “made it” against those
who didn’t. Think of the neighborhoods in the movie “Good Will Hunting.”
The audience
is transported to working-class “Southie” by the tough-luck tales and salty
language of three Southie ladies. One of
these, Margie, quickly gains our sympathy. Played with brilliant authenticity
by Sarah Grimes-Emmons, Margie (short for Margaret with the hard “g”) has the
pluck to survive her hard life, but her friends say her soft heart gets in her
way.
In 2011 Frances McDormand won a
Tony for originating this role. The play, by David Lindsay-Abaire, won the New
York Drama Critics Circle award for best play.
Margie is a
single parent as her mother was, both having been deserted by their men. But Margie’s employment history has been more
complicated because her grown daughter requires special care. Her “Joycie” was born with developmental
disabilities and is presently watched over during the day by Margie’s landlady,
Dottie, as a favor to Margie, who can afford nothing better for Joyce. Though loving, Dottie is unreliable, and her
tardiness has cost Margie her latest job.
Susan Michael is hilariously entertaining as Dottie, and I couldn’t help
thinking how well she was named, if you know the English slang term
“dotty.” Note that Estelle Parsons
played her on Broadway, and I think you can guess the sweet, senile, silliness
of this character.
Thanks to
Margie’s old friend Jean, Margie discovers that her high school fling “Mikey”
is back in town. He is now a successful
pediatrician and lives in a better neighborhood. Jean encourages Margie to ask him for a job.
Played with gusto by Sherry Dumas, Jean earns her nickname “Mouthie from
Southie” by telling it like it is on every topic, including some private
ones. She’s the one who tells Margie,
“You’re too nice. You have to be a
selfish pr___ to get anywhere.” Is this
how Dr. Mike succeeded? At first Margie
calls him “good people,” but later we wonder with her if that’s accurate.
We are also
inclined to sit in judgment of Margie.
Is SHE “good people,” or has a hard life turned her mean as Mike
suggests? It is easy to sympathize with the chain of
events that have held her back, but Mike resolutely blames her for bad choices,
even when she points out that he “made it” based more on luck and other
people’s help than on autonomous, good choices. Margie lashes out easily and
spares no language, going for the jugular and then pulling back with a jokey
claim of “just bustin’ balls.” She has a street-kid’s wit and biting tongue,
but we still see her good nature.
As Mike,
Denny Bowen shows us Mike’s nervousness that belies his confidence, suggesting
that the success at leaving behind the old neighborhood may be only on the
surface. Ashley Flowers as his wife and
Joseph Slankard as Stevie, the manager who fires Margie, round out this cast of
“good people,” well-directed by Steve Coniglio.
When Act II
begins, we go from the stark kitchens, alleys, and bingo halls of Southie to a
posh living room in Chestnut Hill, a lovely set by Tommy Johnson and Ron Cotnam
helping us make the leap. Great musical interludes between scenes help create
the local color of Boston.
I recommend
this show whole-heartedly, another in Stage 3’s line of comical and
entertaining plays that always contain a good bit of heart.
“Good People” plays Thursday through Sunday
until October 12. Call 209-536-1778 or
go to www.stage3.org for tickets.
by
Shari Schweigler
