'Good People' With Great Acting

Are the powers that be at the Hampton Theatre Company prescient? They must be, otherwise how could they know that a season filled with morality plays such as “Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire, would be so synchronistic right now.

“Good People,” directed by Sarah Hunnewell, is the first undertaking of the HTC’s 2012-2013 season. Other productions slated to stage include “Other People’s Money” “The Drawer Boy” and “How the Other Half Lives.” This season-opening drama—an on-the-money portrayal of the class differences between the haves and the have-nots in the Boston area—is an incredibly strong production, thanks to some of the best acting this reviewer has seen on the Quogue stage.

To be clear, whenever I compliment good acting, what I mean is that the actor portraying a character on stage has convinced both him or herself, and me (as the audience), that they are in fact not themselves at all but the person whose life the audience is watching. That seamless believability, to me, is the mark of a fine and talented actor working at the height of his or her craft.

Morgan Vaughan—starring as Margaret, or “Margie,” as she is called throughout the play, a down-on-her luck recently fired dollar store cashier in South Boston—is well deserving of the highest praise for the best acting. This woman, whom I know to be a beautiful, young ingenue type in real life is so utterly convincing on stage as a worn-out, middle-aged, destitute single mother at the end of her rope that I was actually shocked. Everything about Ms. Vaughn became Margie—from her posture, to the way she made her body appear larger, her face harder, her appearance a decade or more older (without any theatrical makeup that I could see), and turning her normally modulated and melodious voice into a harsh Southie accent. The transformation was complete and incredible.

If there was an East End version of the Tony Awards, I would put Ms. Vaughan (who appeared in this production courtesy Actors’ Equity) up against the venerable Tony Award-winning actor Lillias White—who played the title role in “Big Maybelle” at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor earlier this year—for best performance by a female lead. Heck, I would put Ms. Vaughan up against Frances McDormand, who won Best Leading Actress in a Play for the same role at the 2011 Tony Awards. Brava, brava, brava Ms. Vaughan!

Tackling an accent can prove to be difficult task for even the most skilled actor (unless it’s Meryl Streep and then it seems to be a walk in the park), and one that more often than not should not be advised (hello Madonna). But for the cast of “Good People” the gamble to tackle the wicked Southie dialect paid off, particularly for Linda May, as Jean, Margie’s best friend who could double as her coarser, less refined, sister.

Not only was Ms. May’s accent spot-on, but her character’s relationship with Ms. Vaughan’s character was immediate, absolutely believable and subtilely perfect. Good work here from an HTC newcomer whom I hope to see again and again. Well done.

I also enjoyed Nehassaiu deGannes’s work as Kate immensely. As a privileged Chestnut Hill transplant from Georgetown, Ms. deGannes (also appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity and also in her first HTC production) didn’t have to put on any form of a Boston accent like the rest of the cast but she did have to carry the burden of being both the most relatable and probably the most likeable character in this story. She was excellent every moment she was on stage.

Diana Marbury, as the rascally and conniving landlord Dottie, was the vehicle of quite a few of the show’s laughs. This Hampton Theatre Company regular, who also has a hand in putting together some of the finest sets on the East End theater scene time and time again, has an uncanny ability to pick the perfect role and she always goes for it with gusto. Her work in “Good People” might just be my favorite of her many portrayals on the Quogue stage.

Sorry to give short shrift to the men this time around but “Good People” is really a piece of staged work crafted for the ladies to shine. That said, Joe Pallister (always happy to see him on stage) as Mike, a man born and bred in South Boston who makes good as a doctor and conveniently forgets his roots when he moves up in society, and Brennan Vickery (another new face on the HTC stage) as Stevie, a person who is torn between doing the right thing and what is expected of him as the boss man, both put in solid performances. Nice job guys.

Bottom line: Don’t miss this opportunity to see some truly great acting in “Good People.”

Hampton Theatre Company has extended the run of “Good People,” staging at the Quogue Community Hall through Sunday, November 18. Performances will be held on Thursdays, November 8 and 15, at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, November 9, 10, 16 and 17, at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, November 11 and 18, at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (except Saturdays) and $10 for students under 21. For further information or reservations, visit the Hampton hamptontheatre.org or call OvationTix at (866) 811-4111 or the Hampton Theatre Company at 653-8955.