Thyrsus, Washington University’s exploratory student theater group, hopes to raise questions about the ethics of self-advancement, luck, opportunity and students’ cushy lifestyles with its fall show, “Good People.” The show, written by David Lindsay-Abaire, centers on Margaret Walsh (played by sophomore Ari Kaiser), a single mother with an adult handicapped daughter living in the blue-collar Boston neighborhood of Southie. After Margie gets fired from her job, she goes through several desperate attempts to solicit help from her former boyfriend, Mike, a now-rich “lace curtain” doctor living on the good side of town, and, in Margie’s eyes, of life. Mike is played by senior Henry Clements. The cast also includes sophomore Joe Holley and juniors Mary Reischmann, Katie Jeanneret and Chelsea Whitaker.

“I like this play because it lets you in to the cycle of socioeconomic problems and brings up issues that we don’t really talk about that much at Wash. U.,” senior Kate Drummond, the director of “Good People,” explained.

“Good People” demonstrates complex relationships with money, race and class that most Wash. U. students don’t confront in their everyday lives outside of anthropology courses. Audiences will be forced to question their good fortune and family roots while watching Margie’s struggle to maintain a day-to-day existence. Drummond promised that the play addresses these issues without being preachy.

“It’s poignant and accessible,” she said.

That’s not to say the play is bleak and depressing. Students can expect a good laugh as well from “Good People”’s quick-paced and witty dialogue. The inflection and accent of the actors as Boston-born characters is true to form. The only major change from the original production is due to circumstance; Wash. U. students can’t realistically play characters written between the ages of 55 and 65 in a close, black-box setting.

“I didn’t want to put anything between the play and the audience, so the students aren’t wearing aging makeup or costumes that make them appear older. Actually, the fact that the characters are supposed to be older created this interesting challenge of us trying to translate and approximate ideas and feelings presented in the play,” Drummond said.

While the play deals with heavy issues such as the true definition of success and what it means to be a good person, the actors manage to tackle the weight with a perspective that really does seem beyond their years.

“Come in with an open mind and be prepared to look honestly at your own life as well as to walk in someone else’s shoes,” Drummond said.

“Good People” will be performed at the Village Black Box on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The runtime is 1:40, including a 10-minute intermission, and tickets are being sold for $5 at the Danforth University Center this week from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or at the door.

Correction: The article previously identified Joe Holley as a freshman. He is a sophomore.