Playhouse examines lives of ‘Good People’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

“Good People,” written by David Lindsay-Abaire, will make its area premiere Friday in the Youngstown Playhouse’s intimate Moyer Room. The 2011 play will run for two weekends.

Lindsay-Abaire, who also penned “Rabbit Hole” and “Kimberly Akimbo,” raises questions about everyday people in the drama.

The play centers on Margie Walsh, a single woman with a handicapped adult daughter living paycheck to paycheck in a South Boston neighborhood.

Matthew Mazuroski, an assistant professor of theater at Youngstown State University, is directing the play.

Upon reading “Good People,” Mazurosky said he was immediately struck by the complex characters created by the playwright, and also the questions that are raised: How do we determine whether a person is “good” or not? What in a person’s character merits the title of a “good” person? And how do we determine who is worthy of our help, our charity and our compassion?

The play should resonate with Youngstown audiences, said Mazuroski, as it touches on a life that might be familiar to many.

“Good People” is part of the Griffith-Adler series. The cast includes Stephanie Cambro, John Cox, Cyndi Plyler, Pat Foltz, Shba Cochran and Connor Bezeredi. Susi Thompson serves as production stage manager.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, this weekend and next.

For tickets, go to theyoungs-townplayhouse.com or call the box office at 330-788-8739.