Running Time
3 hours and 45 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. Be good to yourself! Food and drink are welcome in the theater, and the cafe will be open through intermission. Re-entry is welcome at anytime.

ANCILLARY EVENTS

AAPI Affinity Night: Wednesday, April 3 at 7pm
The Let Out:
Sunday, April 7 at 2 pm
Relaxed Performance: Wednesday, April 10 at 2 pm
Aurora Circle: Thursday, April 11 at 7pm
Open Mic: Monday, April 15 at 7pm
Open Caption/Audio Description: Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm & Sunday, April 21 at 2 pm
Cafe Chats: After the performances on April 11, 12, 18, 19

THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN

by Bertolt Brecht
translated by Wendy Arons
adapted by Tony Kushner
directed by Justin Jain

April 2–21, 2024

FAQ about Streaming

 

Only available by stream, April 22 – May 19.

Three Gods come to the city of Setzuan looking for one good person. They cross paths with Shen Te, a downtrodden young woman trying to lead a “good” life amid the chaotic thrum and bustle of the shantytown. She offers the Gods shelter and, in return, they reward Shen Te with money that is intended as both a gift and a test. Shen Te initially attempts to maintain her charitable nature, but the hectic life of the city combined with the mounting needs of her neighbors lead her to assume an uncompromising alter ego who becomes consumed by the Gods’ challenge. The Good Person of Setzuan dares audiences to question what it means to be good and who gets to adjudicate right from wrong.

Working from an adaptation by playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Bertolt Brecht’s classic parable is retold and radically reclaimed through the vision of director Justin Jain with original live music and members of the Wilma HotHouse Acting Company.

Learn More about the themes and history of the play by visiting our Dramaturgy page.

 

PRESS

WHYY: Wilma Theater Spoofs Asian Cultural Ignorance With a Wall of Trash

6ABC Interview with Bi Jean Ngo

Broad Street Review: REVERSING ORIENTALIST TROPES

Zoe Writes Theatre: (Review) The Good Person of Setzuan

Zoe Writes Theatre: Artist Spotlight: Bi Jean Ngo

Billy Penn: On a mission: Making Philly theaters more sustainable, less wasteful

thINKingDANCE: Reimagining Brecht and Being a ‘Good Person’ in 21st Century Capitalism

 

The Good Person of Setzuan, 2024