The gods are in search of a good person to help them to save civilisation. But what is goodness and how easy is it to find in any civilisation in any part of the world? Certainly in today’s society it is difficult to observe the boundaries between right and wrong, never mind those between good and evil. Bertolt Brecht’s original play was written in 1943 after he had gone into exile to escape the Nazi regime in his native Germany. It has been given a makeover by Tanika Gupta, and includes new music and songs by Paul Higgs. While I was initially intrigued by some of the characters I was disappointed not to be able to see what really made them tick and react in the way they did. Much was made of the fact it is hard to be good if you are really poor, as most of the characters in this multicultural city of Setzuan appeared to be. But I would like to have seen more depth of character. Admittedly this would be hard to achieve with most members of the cast playing at least three different characters in this city of corrugated iron, created by Jane Linz Roberts, where few people shared any national identity. Yaa, who plays Shen Te - the "good woman" of the play's title, has difficulty in maintaining her moral standards because all and sundry appear to want to sponge off her good nature. She invents a tougher alter ego in the form of a male cousin, who is able to get things on a firmer footing with the running of a tobacco shop she has purchased with the money the gods have given her in return for their overnight stay. Shen Te is torn between the need to survive and support her as yet unborn child and the need to be good and kind to her neighbours. There appears to be no resolution to her dilemma and even when the gods return to make a judgement it all seems inconclusive. My verdict is: I do not know what goodness is either. The play, which at times appears simplistic, carries a far deeper message – but you will have to judge what that is for yourselves. The Good Woman of Setzuan runs at Leicester Haymarket Theatre until 06 May. Performances are at 19:30 and matinees are at 14:00 Wed-Thu and 14.30 Saturdays. Tickets are £18/£15/£12 (£7 students and £2 off for concessions). Photo credits: Stephen Vaughan | 
