WA premiere: Mamet marriage play of mockery and manners

A script from famed, award-winning US playwright David Mamet comes to WA for the first time this April.

Premiering at Roleystone Theatre and directed by Eliot McCann, Boston Marriage focuses on two women living together at the turn of the 20th century, scheming away on the fringes of upper-class society.

Their intimate relationship hits troubled waters and both tussle for the upper hand as one becomes a wealthy man’s mistress and the other becomes infatuated with a young girl.

The play’s title comes from the phrase “Boston marriage”, used to describe two women living together, independent of a man’s financial support, and can refer to a long-term loving relationship.

Among Mamet’s many credits are the plays Glengarry Glen Ross and Sexual Perversity in Chicago and the screenplays The Postman Always Rings Twice and The Untouchables.

After widespread belief he could only write for men, Mamet wrote Boston Marriage which focuses exclusively on three women.

McCann said he had been a long-term fan of Mamet’s writing – but had not previously heard of this play.

“My interest was piqued on that level and I was further intrigued by the fact it was written for an all-female cast, which was unusual for an author renowned for his ‘alpha-male’ characters,” he said.

“After reading three pages of the script, I was chortling audibly in the library – and I was sold on the idea of directing the show.

"The over-arching story concerns friendship and how, no matter what wedges are driven between two people who care deeply for each other, their friendship will invariably survive.”

Boston Marriage plays at 8pm, April 13, 14, 18, 20 and 21. All tickets are $16 – book on 9397 5730 or through the new online booking and payment system at www.roleystonetheatre.com.au.

Roleystone Theatre is located at 587 Brookton Highway, Roleystone, opposite the Croyden Road junction.