“Good People” Packs a Wallop–at Altarena
Daron Jennings (Mike), Rezan Asfaw (Kate), Alicia Rydman (Margie). Photos by Grizzly De Haro.
David Lindsay-Abaire Pits Haves Against Have Nots
by Lynne Stevens
Altarena’s superb cast effortlessly unrolls “Good People” putting Boston’s sharp class differences boldly on display in a comedy masterpiece. Is life made up of good choices or lucky breaks? Laughter and tears unveil the complications of Irish workers’ lives in South Boston.
We open with Margaret (dynamic Alicia Rydman) trying to distract her manager Steve (adorable Sam Barksdale) from doing what she knows is inevitable. He is firing her from a pitiful job at Dollar Tree for being late.
The drawn-out Boston “aaah” grabs us right away, marking her as a “Southie” who never escaped South Boston. Alicia Rydman’s Margaret—or Margie—is mouthy and will say anything to wiggle out of a serious conversation. She has no censor and blurts out whatever is on her mind.
With a handicapped daughter, Joyce, who cannot be left alone, her options for work are limited. Playing bingo with her friends, Margie complains that her landlady may evict her. Margie has no job and is fighting for survival.
Her spacey landlady Dottie (hilarious Marsha van Broek) is fixated on getting the rent. Dottie feigns righteousness to cover missing her commitment to watch Joyce. The Southies claim loyalty, but they are all so poor and living on the edge they cannot really help each other.
Marsha van Broek (Dottie), Alicia Rydman (Margie), Nicole Naffaa (Jean), Sam Barksdale (Stevie)
Conversation drifts to old high school acquaintances, and Margie’s tough best friend Jean (masterful Nicole Naffaa) brings up Mike Dillon (smooth Daron Jennings). Mike, now a successful doctor living comfortably in Chestnut Hill, got out of South Boston by getting an education. Jean suggests strong-arming Mike by claiming that he is Joyce’s father—a daring attack.
When Margie shows up at Mike’s medical office, their layered banter dredges up the past. In a dispute about strength of character versus lucky breaks, Mike insists that Margie’s life reflects her poor choices. But Margie boldly points out that Mike had support to escaspe South Boston. Between uproarious laughter, “Good People” makes us wonder about character vs. opportunity in the U.S.
Margie calls Mike “good people” and “lace-curtain Irish,” terms both endearing and belittling. She claims that Mike’s parents, who made sure he did his homework, gave him an unfair advantage.
When Margie finagles an invitation to Mike’s birthday party, she shows both desperation and resilience, hoping to find a job amongst the Chestnut Hill crowd. At the party, we find Mike wriggling out of seeing a marriage counselor with his elegant wife Kate (splendid Rezan Asfaw). Mike has always edited his background, hiding facts from his clever, probing wife.
When Margie begins to tell tales, Mike becomes so outraged that we catch a glimmer of the old “Mikey.” In the brilliant scene between between successful husband, smart wife, and former girlfriend, the tension rises dramatically. “Good People” opens intriguing questions about honesty, survival, and identity,
With a simple but effective set, all the actors shine. See this brilliant production and leave with lots to debate for days to come. Eased by the brilliant comedy, we wonder about how we live now—a rare revelation. I found it hard to take sides in this beautiful ballet between haves and have-nots.
“Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Russell Kaltschmidt, set design by Tim Curtin, lighting design by Stephanie Anne Johnson, sound by James Goode, costumes by Christine U’Ren, dialect coach Sarah Elizabeth Williams, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, California.
Info: altarena.org – to September 21, 2025.
Cast: Alycia Rydman, Samuel Barksdale, Marsha van Broek, Nicole Naffaa, Daron Jennings, and Rezan Asfaw.
