Boston Marriage (play)

"Boston Marriage" is a 1999 play by American playwright David Mamet. The play concerns two women at the turn of the 20th Century who are in a "Boston marriage," a relationship between two females that "may" involve both physical and emotional intimacy. After widespread belief that Mamet could only write for men, the playwright released this play, which centers exclusively on women.

Synopsis

The two leads, Anna and Claire, argue over Claire's new found "Love" while Anna's Scottish maid, Catherine, is brought to tears by her employer's harsh verbal rebukes. Things get tense as Anna, a mistress to a wealthy gentleman, tries to talk Claire out of her profession of love for another: a young woman. Claire, on the other hand, has already made plans with her young love to meet at Anna's house in the hopes that she will be able to persuade her new love to engage in a "vile assignation." Things go awry, however, when the girl arrives and recognizes that an emerald necklace that Anna is wearing belongs to her mother.

The plot line focuses on whether Anna and Claire will be able to find a way to hold on to both the girl and her wealthy but unfaithful father. The play is delivered through quick, witty Victorian-era dialogue, mixed with double entendres and vernacular expressions, to explore the relationship between the two women and their maid. Through humor and nuance, the play explores the negotiation, conflict, compromise and reconciliation that arise in their relationship.

Production history

"Boston Marriage" was originally produced by the American Repertory Theatre (Robert Brustein, Artistic Director; Robert J. Orchard, Managing Director) at the Hasty Pudding Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts on June 4, 1999. It was directed by David Mamet; the set design was by Sharon Kaitz and J. Michael Griggs; the lighting design was by John Ambrosone; and the costume design was by Harriet Voyt. The cast included Rebecca Pidgeon (Claire), Felicity Huffman (Anna), and Mary McCann (Catherine). [ [www.dramatists.com] Boston Marriage script, Dramatists Play Service Inc.]

It was performed in London at the Donmar Warehouse from March 2001 until April 2001. Directed by Phillida Lloyd, it featured Zoe Wanamaker (Anna), Anna Chancellor (Claire), and Lyndsey Marshall. It moved to the West End at the New Ambassadors Theatre, where it ran from November 28, 2001 until February 16, 2002. [ [http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=Boston%20Marriage History of productions of Boston Marriage in London] ]

"Boston Marriage" ran off-Broadway in New York at The Public Theater from November 5, 2002 through December 22, 2002. It was directed by Karen Kohlhaas and starred Kate Burton as Anna, Martha Plimpton as Claire, and Aredn Myrin. [ [http://www.curtainup.com/bostonmarriageny.html Curtain Up review] ]

The play was performed in Lima, Peru in early 2007 under the direction of theater director and actor Alberto Isola. [ [http://www.pucp.edu.pe/centro_cultural/index.php3?c_idseccion=2&c_idnot=2360 PUCP | Centro Cultural ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.curtainup.com/bostonmarriage.html Curtain Up review, London, March 17, 2001]
* [http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=4921 Lortel listing]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E7DE1739F932A15752C1A9649C8B63 "New York Times" review, November 21, 2002]