Boston Marriage: a comedy by David Mamet
August 10, 2010
New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is thrilled to begin its 2010-2011 Season with David Mamet’s clever, biting comedy Boston Marriage. Boston Marriage opens for the press on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 7:30pm and plays through Sunday, October 3, 2010 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in the Charles Mosesian Theater.
“I am delighted to start our 27th Season with one of David Mamet’s most accomplished and humorous plays, Boston Marriage,” says Kate Warner, Artistic Director for New Repertory Theatre. “This season, I selected plays that explore ideas of transformation, wherein characters have experiences that change their perspectives in a significant way. In Boston Marriage, Anna and Claire’s relationship transforms through a wickedly funny satire of class and customs.”
Ms. Warner also adds, “I am pleased to bring director David Zoffoli back to New Repertory Theatre, and I am eager to work with the cast and design team David and I have assembled.”
"I'm so enjoying working with our local talent," said David Zoffoli, the director of Boston Marriage. "The physical production--think wild Gibson girls in the Gilded Era--will be stunning, and the actors get Mamet's rhythm and wit."
Mr. Zoffoli adds, "When Mamet wrote the play in the '90s, he effectively re-introduced the term “Boston marriage” to contemporary America. At the turn of the 20th century, a “Boston marriage” described a living arrangement between two women that was independent of any male support. The term probably comes from Henry James' Bostonians, in which he details an implicit marriage between two women. Mamet's hilarious take on such an arrangement is brilliant."
Boston Marriage features New Rep favorites Jennie Israel (Tartuffe) as Claire, and Debra Wise (Orson’s Shadow and The Real Thing) as Anna.
In this biting comedy by David Mamet, Anna and Claire, two “women of fashion”
who have long resided together, scheme to obtain the objects of their desire. Anna
maintains their upper-middle class Victorian lifestyle as the mistress of a wealthy man who provides her with a healthy income and a distinctive emerald necklace for her companionship. When Claire’s attentions stray from Anna, Anna devises the “perfect plan” that grows in outlandishness, even as it backfires, and the innocent parlor maid gets caught in the crossfire.
New Repertory Theatre produces plays that speak powerfully to the essential ideas of our time. Through the passion and electricity of live theater performed to the highest standards of excellence, New Rep expands and challenges the human spirit of both artists and audience. New Rep presents world premieres, contemporary and classic works in several intimate settings. We are committed to education and outreach, including special dedication to the creation of innovative in-school programming and providing access to underserved audiences. New Rep is an active advocate for the arts and a major voice in the national dialogue defining the role of theater in our culture. Programming for New Repertory Theatre is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For Press Inquiries: Contact Gia Podobinski at 617-923-7060, extension 205
or e-mail gia@newrep.org