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Overview

Synopsis

Wealthy, self-important businessman John is a bully towards his conventional wife, Lucy, and everyone else who crosses his path. His younger sister, Helen, is a modern woman and John is constantly scandalized by her behavior, especially when she decides to pursue an education and a career in science. John is even more shocked when Helen begins to work at night, alone and unchaperoned, in her laboratory with her boss, the young scientist Ernest. As John realizes Helen and Ernest are secretly in love, John tries to prevent their marriage, believing that scientists are ill-paid and of a lower class. But when the pair threaten to leave for Paris to work on a scientific project, John is determined to force them into a marriage to preserve Helen’s respectability. An examination of love, marriage, commitment, and money in the dawn of the new century, Why Marry is the first ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1914
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
A weekend at a country house, USA, 1915
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Helen

Lead

Female

Ernest Hamilton

Lead

Male

John

Lead

Male

Lucy

Lead

Female

Jean

Supporting

Female

Rex Baker

Supporting

Male

Judge Everett Grey

Supporting

Male

Cousin Theodore

Supporting

Male

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

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Videos

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.