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In the working-class neighborhood of South Boston,single mother Margie gets fired from her cashier's job, <br /> having missed too much work. She reminds her boss it's because of her mentally disabled adult daughter,but <br /> he tells Margie he must fire her to keep his own job. <br /> Desperate to make rent,Margie decides to appeal to Mike,a former boyfriend and now successful doctor,after <br /> learning he's back in the area. He meets her for old times' sake,but says he has nothing when she asks for a <br /> job. <br /> Margie pushes the guilt button by contrasting his wealthy lifestyle with her no-options;poverty-stricken <br /> existence. Mike reluctantly invites her to a party,at his home, suggesting she might find work among his <br /> business friends. The party is canceled because Mike's daughter gets sick,but Margie shows up anyway, <br /> armed with a drastic plan to elicit Mike's help. However, she is forced to re-evaluate her whole life after <br /> meeting Mike's wife and learning the couple's history. <br /> The human comedy arises from the crude banter among Margie and her friends,as well as the awkward <br /> moments between former lovers. Lurking underneath;however,is the plight of the unemployed,the sadness in <br /> dreams defeated and the guilt over hurtful past actions. <br /> Director Tony Lea astutely guides his superb cast in balancing each character's flaws and strengths. Helen <br /> Hagan skillfully plays Margie's hardened,manipulative side,only to move us deeply with Margie's ultimate <br /> loving sacrifice. Mark Filiaci is perfectly cast as the confident,well-mannered Mike,perceptively revealing his <br /> ambivalence and remorse as the past confronts him. As wife Kate,Rasool Jahan is the essence of urbane <br /> sophistication hiding self-doubts and resentments. The trio's lengthy second act scene is a gripping roller- <br /> coaster ride. <br /> Page Purgar is a laugh machine as Margie's outrageous friend Jean,Brian Fisher offers an amusing range of <br /> pent-up frustration as Margie's boss Stevie,and Sharlene Thomas' Dottie,Margie's landlady,lives up to the <br /> character's name with her off-the-wall ditherings. <br /> Rob Hamilton's impressive turntable of settings and Jenni Mama Becker's mood-enhancing lighting round out <br /> this highly recommended staging. <br /> Dicks: music theaterk)lycos.com <br /> Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/26/3138653/good-people-thoughtfully- <br /> funny.html#storylink=cpy <br />