Tuesday 29th April 2014 by Kate Parker
Imelda Staunton in Good People
Good People is relatively new to the West End scene, in fact, having only been written in 2011, it’s a pretty new show altogether.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Good People, the Noël Coward Theatre’s latest residing show. However, what I was sure of was my obsession with actress Imelda Staunton (ever since she perfectly executed the role of Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix!) and that a production with her name to it could only be good. My suspicions were correct – the woman and the show are nothing short of outstanding.
Set in working-class South Boston, the play revolves around the character of Margie – a sharp-tongued single mother of a disabled child who, at 50, finds herself jobless once again and struggling to make ends meet. But – swallowing her pride (perhaps a little too much) – she finds herself at the mercy of former “flame” Mike and his wife Kate in a desperate bid to get back on her feet for the sake of her and her daughter, Joycey.
Writen by David Lindsay-Abaire and imported from across the pond, Good People raises provocative questions about the American class system – an apparently tough topic in the States – as it explores the overlapping spheres of social class and financial stability. We witness this with Mike progressing out of “Southie”, and Margie (believing she has had no good choices in her 50 years, only bad ones) continues to lead a tough life.
I was surprised to find how my perception of Margie changes throughout the play. At first, I had Margie down as “good people”. I thought Mike was relatively “good people” too, but as the story unravels and audiences are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations, we’re left a little perplexed wondering if there is such a thing as “good people”. You’ll see what I mean…
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Margie and her two friends Dottie and Jean. Their sparky yet wholly united friendship, quick-witted sense of humour and shared understanding of Southie struggles was both heart-warming and hilarious.
Imelda Staunton commands the stage throughout, giving a truly gutsy and convincing performance (I totally forgot that she was once Vera Drake and the conniving witch at Hogwarts) and her co-stars are equally commendable.
I really cannot rate this play highly enough. It was an absolute joy to watch it brought to life on stage and this was only heightened by the incredible performance of the female protagonist herself, the wonderful Imelda Staunton.