Overview
Synopsis
Marriage. Divorce. Alcoholism. Stillbirths. Illness. Bacon. The Marriage of Bette and Boo follows the zany, turbulent, heartbreaking marriage of Bette Brennan and Boo Hudlocke. Bette and Boo marry and set about having the large, happy family that Bette always dreamed of. The arrival of their first son, Matt, is soon overshadowed by a succession of stillborns. Bette is heartbroken. Boo starts to drink; Bette starts to nag. Amongst the chaos fighting, both must deal with their wacky families: Bette’s mother and father, who suffered a stroke and now speaks in unintelligible gibberish; Boo’s sadistic father, fond of calling his long-suffering wife “the dumbest woman in the world”; Bette’s sister, ridden with anxiety and constantly apologizing for everything; the family priest, fond of impersonating bacon. Playwright Christopher Durang’s most autobiographical work, The Marriage of Bette and Boo finds humor and compassion in unhappiness, as Matt comes to terms with the love⏤and pain⏤that families are made of.
Show Information
- Book
- Christopher Durang
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1985
- Genres
- Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Various settings in the life of Bette and Boo, 1950s-1980s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The Marriage of Bette and Boo is often considered playwright Christopher Durang’s most autobiographical work. A tale of marital discord and alcoholism, the dark comedy reflects certain aspects of Durang’s own childhood. “The play ‘feels’ autobiographical, I rather assume,” Durang wrote in his notes for the play, “and it would be disingenuous to pretend that the characters of Bette and Boo do not in many significant ways reflect my parents’ lives. Many of the surrounding characters and events
to read the context for The Marriage of Bette and Boo and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
[Editor’s note: this play travels back and forth between the past and the present, with Matt’s narration interspersed throughout the action.]
ACT ONE
The Brennans and the Hudlockes are gathered for the marriage of Bette and Boo. Bette Brennan happily prepares for the ceremony with her mother, Margaret; father, Paul, who is unable to make himself understood after suffering a stroke; her sardonic, pregnant sister Joanie; and her neurotic, apologetic sister Emily. Bette is gleeful to
to read the plot for The Marriage of Bette and Boo and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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