Spotlight on Plays: Boston Marriage

Broadway’s Best Shows resumes their Spotlight on Plays series with a reading of David Mamet’s Boston Marriage. The reading debuts on November 12th at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST and will remain available for viewing for 72 hours. Starring in the reading are Patti LuPone, Rebecca Pidgeon and Sophia Macy. The reading is directed by Mamet.

Boston Marriage tells the story of two women, Anna and Claire. Anna has a wealthy lover who has recently gifted her with a one-of-a-kind emerald necklace. Claire is infatuated with a young woman. When the object of her affection shows up at Anna’s house for a planned rendezvous, she recognizes the emerald necklace as her mother’s. How can Anna and Claire keep the necklace, the girl, the rich lover and not have their worlds fall apart?

Mamet directed the world premiere of the play in 1999 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. (Appropriate for a play with “Boston” in the title.) Boston Marriage made its off-Broadway debut at The Public Theatre in a production directed by Karen Kohlhaas.

Patti LuPone, beyond her vast Broadway musical credits, appeared in the double bill of Mamet’s The Water Engine and Mr. Happiness on Broadway in 1978. Nearly twenty years later she appeared in his play The Old Neighborhood and earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance.

In addition to being Mamet’s wife, Rebecca Pidgeon appeared in the ART production of Boston Marriage. She also appeared in The Old Neighborhood on Broadway. Her other appearances in Mamet’s plays include Oleanna with Bill Macy at the Orpheum Theatre in 1992, The Penitent in 2017 and The Anarchist in 2015 in Los Angeles. She’s also a recording artist in addition to be an actor.

Ben Brantley, in his New York Times review, said of the play, “Boston Marriage, as you may have heard already, is Mr. Mamet’s response to critics who say he does not create meaty roles for women. For this arch story of guiltless lesbian lovers in the age of gilt might be seen as the flip side of American Buffalo, the 1975 drama that clinched Mr. Mamet’s reputation as a theatrical voice to reckon with.”

Tickets for Spotlight on Plays readings are only $5. Proceeds benefit The Actor’s Fund. Boston Marriage will remain available for view for 72 hours.

Photo: Rebecca Pidgeon in the 1999 A.R.T. production of Boston Marriage (Photo by Richard Feldman/Courtesy ART)