This feisty feminist drama is set in a New York law firm specialising in personal injury focusses on three ambitious female lawyers, and revolves around rivalry, office politics and usual gossip over morning coffee.
The dialogue kicks off with an agitated phone call, as Jeanie shrieks at her estranged husband Michael who has been sacked from the firm for sexual misconduct with a 22 year old paralegal. Her colleague Zara is also on her mobile, mid conversation. Then, Summer, a young, naïve recruit in a stunning red pantsuit, is trying to build up her confidence, with a daily meditative mantra, ‘ I am powerful, I am peace’.
A major legal dispute, the Goldsmith case, which Michael had been working on will now be given to one of these three lawyers, so the competitive cat fight begins. Their manager, Alan, is played across several scenes by each of the three women, simply by wearing a tie with their designer trouser suits. Jeanie tries to persuade him to give her the case as she is desperate to be a Partner but told that HR will make no employment changes at the moment; Zara, (subtly played by Netaniah Faison Osborne) is cool and composed, more diplomatic and stresses her experience as the one who should be selected. Summer pleads with Alan, saying that she is the most suitable candidate due to her compassionate care of her grandmother.
The constant whirring of the photocopier in the office to the chit-chat and music in a Cocktail Bar, provide realistic atmospheric settings. Natalie Beller gives a cute, amusing performance as Summer, gleefully girlish at work then swilling back the wine as she struggles to cope on a blind date.
However, the plotline lacks any sense of dramatic intrigue and the entire story is about who will be offered the Goldsmith case with little emotional insight developed by the characters. And for much of the time, Jeanie, stands centre stage as an irritating loudmouth who continually shouts obscenities at Michael on the phone, hardly presenting the manner of a professional career woman.
The title, ‘Good for You’ is never explained.
For a clever, satirical drama with astute observations of close knit, high flying attorneys at a Boston law firm, you would be well advised instead to watch reruns of the brilliant TV series, Ally McBeal.
Showtimes:
3-23 August, 2025 @ 15.10
Tickets: £11 (£8)
Age guidance: 16+
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/good-for-you