Plays About Marriage, Divorce or Weddings
The major interactions in these plays are between married couples, or marriage is an important subject in the plot or conversation. The plays about divorce or separation are in a separate section at the bottom. See also:
Plays About Marriage or Weddings
The Proposal by Anton Chekhov (1 Act)
Lomov calls on Chubokov to make a request. He’s wearing formal dress and is excited. Lomov wants permission to marry Chubokov’s daughter, Natalya. Chubokov is very pleased. When Natalya enters, the conversation gets derailed.
This play can be read in the preview of Delphi Complete Works of Anton Chekhov. (65% in)
Ivanov by Anton Chekhov (4 Acts)
Ivanov and Anna have been married five years. She renounced her Jewish heritage and gave up her money for him. Ivanov is depressed and heavily in debt. Anna has tuberculosis and needs to go to the Crimea, but there isn’t enough money. A young woman, Sasha, is infatuated with Ivanov.
The first act can be read in the preview of Anton Chekhov’s Plays. (6% in)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee (3 Acts)
George is a college professor, married to Martha, the daughter of the college president. They’re a middle-aged couple who have just come home from a faculty party. Martha has invited a younger couple over to continue the evening. George and Martha engage in escalating verbal sparring as details of their life come out.
Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies (2 Acts)
Gabe and Karen invite Beth and Tom over for dinner. Beth explains that Tom was suddenly called out of town. They talk about a recent vacation. Beth eventually breaks down, telling her friends that Tom has left her. Both couples try to make sense of what happened and get the details of the split.
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (9 Episodes)
Helen works at an office. George, a wealthy man, asks Helen to marry him. Helen wants to escape her job but doesn’t find George attractive. They eventually get married. Helen is soon unhappy, and after giving birth, even more so. When she goes out with a friend one night she meets Roe, and they are attracted to each other.
Before Breakfast by Eugene O’Neill (1 Act)
The Rowlands live in a small apartment in New York. Mrs. Rowland comes out of the bedroom. She puts on an apron and starts the coffee. Making as little noise as possible, she gets a bottle of gin and has a drink. She goes through her husband’s vest and finds a letter. After reading it, she starts calling her husband to get up and berates him.
Plays About Divorce or Separation
Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies (2 Acts)
Gabe and Karen invite Beth and Tom over for dinner. Beth explains that Tom was suddenly called out of town. They talk about a recent vacation. Beth eventually breaks down, telling her friends that Tom has left her. Both couples try to make sense of what happened and get the details of the split.
The Wash by Philip Kan Gotanda
Masi has left her husband, Nobu, after 42 years, and starts seeing another man, Sadao. Nobu has traditional values and beliefs about the role of women, while Sadao is more open. Masi still does Nobu’s laundry. Their two daughters have differing views on the split.
The Advertisement by Natalia Ginzburg (3 Acts)
Teresa, who is separated from her husband, rents out a spare room to Elena, a college student. Teresa tells Elena her story, focusing on her childhood and tumultuous relationship with her husband, Lorenzo, including the incident that finally ended things.
The Cocktail Party by T. S. Eliot
Guests are gathered at the Chamberlayne home for a cocktail party, but Mrs. Chamberlayne isn’t there. Her husband makes an excuse for her absence, but she has left him. He talks to a psychiatrist about his life.
I’ll keep adding plays about marriage, weddings or divorce as I find more.
