Good People is an extremely well-written and very good play by David Lindsay-Abaire. The entire production is top-notch from the wonderful cast directed by Matt Shakman to the lavish set design by Craig Siebels

Margie (Jane Kaczmarek) was born in South Boston, a poor neighborhood that the natives call "Southie." She has lived there all her life and feels that she has never had an opportunity to make anything of it, nor ever will. When she is laid off from her job at the Dollar Store by Stevie (Brad Fleischer) for being tardy too often, she pleads with him not to fire her, explaining her at-home problem with her adult daughter who is mentally challenged. Though the young man has known Margie since he was a boy, (Everyone in the neighborhood knows everyone else.) he has his orders from his boss.

Sara Botsford, Jane Kaczmarek and Marylouise Burke

Margie is a gutsy woman, as are her rather foul-mouth friends, Dottie (Marylouise Burke), who is also Margie's landlady, and Jean (Sara Botsford). They have all grown up together, but these two are not the most wonderful friends a girl can find. If Margie is unable to come up with her rent next month, Dottie will be quick to put her out. It's rough looking for work, and Margie is running out of places to go. When Jean reminds her that her former high school sweetheart Mike (Jon Tenney) is now a well-to-do-doctor, she makes a suggestion to Margie to go see him at his office where he might give her a job.

Margie takes Jean's suggestion and arrives at Mike's well-adorned office. He is surprised to see her after all these years, and after they converse about old times, he tells her that he doesn't have a job available. But Margie isn't about to give up completely, and before she leaves, she wrangles an invitation from him to his home for a birthday party being given by his wife Kate (Cherise Boothe). She can't wait to see what his house is like! And she is just as curious to meet Kate (Cherise Boothe) after seeing her picture on his desk.

This is the time, during their meeting, after all these years, that the plot brings out the difference in those who "got away" and made something of themselves and those like Margie and her friends who were never able to pull themselves up out of their poverty. Margie refers to them as the "Good People." But as the plot thickens and comes to the closing moments, in actuality, who turn out to really be the "Good People?"

Good People was nominated for a Tony Award and was named Best Play of 2010-11 by the New York Drama Critics Circle. This production being presented at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave, Westwood Village, Los Angeles. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM, closing Sunday night, May 13. Tickets are available at the Geffen Playhouse Box Office in person, by phone at (310) 208-5454, or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.

Highly recommended.

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