Marriage a la Mode

Play

Writers: John Dryden

Overview

Show Information

Category
Play
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1673
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Sicily, 1600s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal for
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes adult, mature adult, elderly, young adult, late teen characters

Synopsis

What is the ideal marriage? In John Dryden’s Marriage a la Mode audiences will take a close look at various relationships and examine the ups and downs of married life. With a pair of young sweethearts, a libertine philanderer, a love-starved wife, and unrequited lovers, this tragicomedy examines the funny and heartbreaking aspects of love. Audiences will get to judge for themselves if there really is an ideal marriage.

Since this play features two drastically different plots, some productions choose to omit the serious, heroic plotline and mount only the comedic, love-focused plotline.

Lead Characters


Marriage a la Mode guide sections