Good

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Professor John Halder is a 'good' man. But 'good' men must adapt to survive. As the world faces its Second World War, Halder finds himself pulled into a movement with unthinkable consequences. Good is a story about a liberal-minded university professor who drifts well-meaningly into a position in the upper reaches of the Nazi administration. John Halder, a professor of literature, seems to be a good man; he diligently visits his blind and senile mother and looks after his vacant wife and three children. He is unremarkable, other than an unusual neurotic tic: the imaginary sound of band music plays in the background of his life, particularly at moments of high emotion. But by writing a book the result of his own experience discussing euthanasia for senile elderly people and by lecturing on the delicacy of German literary culture, John has unintentionally made himself a very desirable acquisition for the Nazi party. A profound and alarming examination of passivity and the rationalisation of evil. Originally published in 1982, this new edition was published to coincide with the West End revival in 2022 starring David Tennant.

Reviews

Good is an original and intelligent play, light in texture but serious in content, that tries to work out how decent, liberal, humane men came to be swept up by the Nazi juggernaut. * Michael Billington, The Guardian *
Taylor's play is about moral compromise in a political fog, and like all good plays is as much about now. as then * Time Out *
One of the most powerful, politically pointed nights at the theatre * Evening Standard *

Author Bio

C.P. Taylor (1929-81) was a Glasgow-born playwright who wrote just under 80 plays during his 16 years as a professional playwright. His plays largely drew on his Jewish background and socialist viewpoint. His works include Mr David, Happy Days Are Here Again, Bread and Butter, Lies About Vietnam, The Black and White Minstrels, Next Year in Tel Aviv, Schippel, Gynt, Walter, and Good - the latter arguably his most successful play. Taylor worked throughout his career with both the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, and the Live Theatre Company, Newcastle. He died of pneumonia in 1981.