Good People

StageWest Theater Company in Des Moines IA is known for it selection of bold, and thought provoking plays. GOOD PEOPLE by David Lindsay-Abaire hit the mark. The story will leave you wondering what constitutes a "good person", what is "nice" and what are we willing to sacrifice for the label of being "good" or "nice". This production is outstanding with honest and brave performances from all the actors: Becky Scholtec, Jonathan deLima, Tiffany Johnson, Deb Copeland, Kelli Hamlow, and Michael Tallman. The set by Jay Jagim is stunning yet simple, costume, lights and sound design, by Sara Jablon, Drew David Vander Werf and Josh Jepson are very effective. This is another Must Not Miss production at StageWest in Des Moines, IA.

This is a story set in Boston about successful and unsuccessful people. While the performance by the actors Kelly McAndrew, Paul Terzenbach, Glynis Bell, Helen Coxe, David Whalen and January LaVoy was superb the story was frustrating and quite annoying. It is primarily about people who do not succeed and do not escape the poor side of town and their resentment towards those who do. The unsuccessful blaming those who are successful for their lot in life, a lot that, for the most part, they laid out themselves. Tiring.