Say what you will about class warfare – it sure makes for wonderful drama. David Lindsay-Abaire’s latest work has its Northwest debut at the Rep, and it simply crackles with insightful wit and entertaining conflict. The time is now, right now and good jobs for our struggling lower class are still maddeningly hard to come by. Margaret, a South Boston native is being let go as a cashier at The Dollar Store for coming in late too often. Having to provide extra care for her disabled adult daughter is not a good enough excuse to keep her on, even when she humbly agrees to be cut back to minimum wage.
Ellen McLaughlin takes on the role of Margaret and is the core of the show. She seamlessly shifts from paralyzing outrage to quiet, bemused acceptance within two beats in a scene. McLaughlin is a joy to watch as she skillfully makes the large Repertory Theater seem much smaller and more intimate.
Eric Riedmann, Cynthia Lauren Tewes and Marianne Owen play her close Southie Irish working class friends, alternating from solicitous support to in your face sarcasm. All four roles could easily slip into cutesy ethnic clichés, but never do. Lindsay-Abaire has bigger fish to fry than to simply take advantage of the set -up for easy one-liners.
John Bolger as Mike, is the Southie that made it out, now comfortably living in Chestnut Hill, a short T-ride away from his original home, but a universe apart economically and socially. Director David Saint emphasizes that distance every time Mike and Margie share a scene. It seems as if they are on two different stages as they awkwardly renew an old relationship.
Zakiya Young plays Kate, Mike’s young wife. While only appearing in act two, she has a lot to do with the outcome and hits an astounding variety of notes in her exciting performance.
The Rep seems to know they have a winner here and are giving it a first rate treatment. James Youmans’ set depicting both the down and out Southie and the plusher suburb actually garnered a round of applause at one point of the evening. Scene changes are a treat as the stage sets role back and forth between two very different worlds.
Lindsay-Abaire has mentioned how ironic it was that “someone like his heroine could never afford theater tickets to see his work.” The Rep has done something about that problem. To help promote the play, it is offering “Dollar Store Deals” for every performance. 25 $1 tickets are available day-of-show only after 12 p.m. in person or by calling the theater’s box office.
Good People plays at the Seattle Repertory Theater through March 31. Costumes by David Murin; Lighting by Charlie Morrison; Music and Sound by Scott Killian. Tickets are available at 206-443-2222 or seattlerep.org.