It’s All About “Good People”

By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano

4 Chairs Theatre’s production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Good People” at Theater Wit, directed by Lauren Berman and dedicated to her mother, is a poignant story based in South Boston about Margie (Jodi Kingsley in a strong performance), a single mom with a special needs daughter that juggles to make ends meet. Running late to her $9/hour dollar store job one too many times, the manager Stevie (Steven Horn, giving an understated timid and kind portrayal) is forced to let her go.

She depends on her friends: landlady Dottie (Maggie Cain) who makes styrofoam bunnies, selling them at bingo, and Jean (Wendy Hayne), who brings comedy relief to the somber tone. Jean tells Margie she ran into her high school boyfriend Mike (Bryan Breau, with impressive surface level charm), a doctor who might have a job for her, his wife Kate characterized as subtly expressive by  Sandra Adjoumani.

The interesting set design by Kevin Rolf of metal train sliding doors is functional to depict the locales in the two separate settings, Southies vs Chestnut Hill affluence, along with the bingo place and a side back alley, all within the theater’s limited space. Anika Splettstoeszer’s costumes represent the class differences appropriately, as do the props by Emma Jean Golden. Trey Brazeal’s lighting adds to the ambiance of each scene, and kudos to dialect coach Carrie Hardin’s work, which shows.

“Good People” is a universal, timeless story – applause to 4 Chairs for putting on this excellent production. But it only runs until August 23rd, so please head to www.4chairstheatre.org for tickets or more information.

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