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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

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
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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Boo Hudlocke

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Matt

Lead

Male

Spoken

Bette Brennan

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Margaret Brennan

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Paul Brennan

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Emily Brennan

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Joan Brennan

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Karl Hudlocke

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Soot Hudlocke

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Father Donnally

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Doctor

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Songs

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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

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Scenes

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Key Terms

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