Enter working-class South Boston, where paychecks hardly make the rent and a night on the town means a few rounds of bingo. When Margie (Colleen Wheeler)finds herself down on her luck, she looks up an old fling who is now a successful doctor (Scott Bellis) in the hopes of finding a job—but things don’t go quite as planned. A shrewd, character-driven comedy with Margie at its centre, Good People asks why some people manage to escape from the situations into which they are born—and some don’t.
“Though the play is set in South Boston, I love the way it speaks to us in Vancouver, since the divide between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow in our city,” says director Rachel Ditor. “This story is a shrewd, entertaining way to challenge our assumptions about class and unlock our hearts through compassion and understanding. Between Lindsay-Abaire’s brilliant storytelling and this masterful cast, especially adept at capturing character nuances, audiences will be kept on the edge of their seats!”
A celebrated American playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire has an astounding capacity for capturing the intricacies of modern life. His previous works include the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning Rabbit Hole (Arts Club, 2008), about a family struggling with the loss of their young child. Based on many of the people David Lindsay-Abaire grew up with in South Boston, Good People is regarded as one of his most personal plays.
Starring Colleen Wheeler (Margie), Patti Allan (Dottie), Scott Bellis (Mike), Benjamin Elliot (Stevie), Jenn Griffin (Jeanne), Sereana Malani (Kate).
Director Rachel Ditor Set Designer Lauchlin Johnston Costume Designer Carmen Alatorre Lighting Designer Adrian Muir Sound Designer MurrayPrice Stage Manager Peter Jotkus Assistant Stage Manager Rebecca Mulvihill
IN BRIEF Arts Club Theatre Company’s Good People playing the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville Street), March 24 – April 24. Tuesday–Thursday 7:30 PM, Friday & Saturday 8 PM, Wednesday 1:30 PM, and Saturday & Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets start at $29, inclusive of taxes and fees. Call the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644 or visit artsclub.com.
