(OUTscene NW) SRT's Good People is GREAT with Good Actors!

by MK Scott 

There is nothing greater than a rare opportunity to catch a established star on a Local stage, especially in Seattle. When that does occur, you pay attention and if that production is a recent Tony (2011) Nominee being stage by a the Seattle Repertory Theater, then you you it has to to be Good.

David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, opened this past Week with a standing ovation, because some of those Good People were Established, not to mention 2 stars with a huge Gay Following. The obvious one was John Bolger (Great-Nephew of MGM's Ray Bolger) from the Iconic Gay Film, 'Parting Glances' as well as being a soap hunk for over a Decade on 'Another World', GH, and OLTL. Also a pleasant surprise was Seeing Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy on the Love Boat) performing in a role that made her unrecognizable.

Of Course story is very timely and deals with the tough economic times of being a single mother struggling to survive in the tough area of South Boston.

Tewes (on the Right) was BAWDY!

Margie (Ellen McLaughlin) a life-long resident of South Boston is fired for tardiness from her job as a cashier at a dollar store. A single mother, and knowing that she and her handicapped adult daughter Joyce, supposedly born premature.  Margie goes to her old High School boyfriend Mike (John Bolger) - now a doctor, but formerly from her neighborhood - looking for employment.  Margie shames Mike into inviting her (however reluctantly) to his birthday party in Chestnut Hill. Margie is looking forward to the party because she views it as a chance to meet potential employers. Her friends, Dottie (Tewes) and Jean (Marianne Owen), encourage her to tell Mike that her daughter Joyce was not born premature but is his, in hopes of getting support from Mike. When Mike calls to tell her that the party has been cancelled, Margie assumes that he is disinviting her because he's embarrassed to have her mix with his bourgeois doctor friends. She decides to go to the house anyway, with the intent of crashing the party. However, the Party was cancelled, and it is just Marge, Mike and Kate; Mike's Wife who just happens to be elegant, young, and African American . Zakiya Young's Kate shines and has some the Best lines in the play as she is supportive to suspicious to compassionate and resentful as Mike is annoyed by Marge's Presence. But is Marge is is willing to sacrifice as she goes further and tells him that he is Joyce's father, and that she never told the truth about the paternity because she wanted Mike to be able to "get out". Mike says that it wouldn't have made a difference if she'd told him, as he had been planning to leave her anyway. Marge says she lied to get Pity, but Did she really?

Bolger's Anger was intense!

McLaughlin plays Margie very Butch, and Tewes plays Dottie as very Bawdy. Bolger's Mike shows his Intense anger very realistic.

The Set by James Youmans was Top notch with the set also doubling as a large projection screen, to show images of Boston to introduce different scenes. The rotating made room for a large living room set of Mike and Katie's Lush Estate.

SRT's Good People, Directed by David Saint Continues through March 31st. Get Tix Here! 

THIS JUST IN:  Seattle Rep will offer 25 $1 tickets to each performance of its production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s dark comedy Good People, running through March 31 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. “Dollar Store Deal” tickets are available day-of-show only after 12 p.m. through the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206-443-2222 or in person.