The Women (play)

The Women is a comedy of manners by Clare Boothe Luce.

The play is an acidic commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-comers and the gossip that propels and damages their relationships. While men frequently are the subject of their lively discussions and play an important role in the action on-stage, they are strictly characters mentioned but never seen.

The original Broadway production, directed by Robert B. Sinclair, opened on December 26, 1936 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 666 performances with an all-female cast that included Arlene Francis, Ilka Chase, and Marjorie Main.

Character Sketches

Mary (Mrs. Haines): middle 30s,upper middle-class housewife, married to Stephen Haines with two children (little Mary and little Stephen), demure, faithful, innocent/positive outlook towards marriage
Crystal: middle 20s, single (until marriage to Stephen), no children, lower-class, fragrance salesperson, flirtatious, deceitful, ambitious, manipulative, unfaithful, disrespectful
Sylvia (Mrs. Fowler): 34, upper middle-class housewife, married to Howard Fowler with no children, gossiper, assertive, disloyal, dishonest, blunt, inconsiderate, selfish
Peggy (Mrs. Day): 25, middle-class housewife (she has money but not her husband), married to John Day with no children (but longs for a child), innocent, compliant, awkward, sympathetic
Nancy Blake: 35, upper middle-class writer, single, possibly bi-sexual (virgin), traveler, blunt, direct, feminist, unemotional
Edith (Mrs. Potter): 33/34, upper middle-class housewife, married to Phelps Potter with 4 children, one dimensional, dull, non-confrontational, does not like children, sexual tendencies, static
Mrs. Morehead: 55, upper middle-class, Mary's mother, presumably a widow, old fashioned/traditional, strict, wise
Countess De Lave: middle-aged, upper middle-class, divorced four times, outgoing, hopeless romantic

Themes

1) Ideal Woman The ideal woman in The Women is one who bears children, cares for her husband, while relying on him financially. Women are expected to be perfectly happy fulfilling this role.

2) Marriage Marriage is viewed in many ways throughout the play. Many characters in "The Women" use it to achieve social advancement, such as Crystal and Miriam. The play also emphasises the impact of children on a marriage and how they can hold a couple together. There are varying ideas on the acceptability of adultery and whether it is treated equally for men and women.

3) Relationships Between Women -negative view, it's hard for women to truly be friends -trust is frequently an issue between the women characters -jealousy is rampant for women throughout the play -mother daughter relations are touched on----mother often gives advice to her daughter

Ways in which the play is radical

For the 1930s, a Broadway production featuring an all-women cast was a surprising event. The play's smashing success could be partly attributed to the fetishization of female bodies. By using the women actors as models for new fashion, Boothe had the opportunity to feature new styles of fashion at the expense of female modesty. Although the Mary's character emphasizes the traditional idea of a woman's role in the household as well as the need for the support of a husband, she is quite radical in the decision to take control of her life by initiating a divorce. Contrasting the rather radical ideas about divorce presented in the play, wise Mrs. Morehead, symbolizes the traditional values of an older generation by disapproving of Mary's decision to divorce, showing the evolution of generational values.

1973 revival

After seven previews, a revival directed by Morton Da Costa opened on April 25, 1973 at the 46th Street Theatre, where it ran for only 63 performances. The cast included Dorothy Loudon, Myrna Loy, Alexis Smith, Kim Hunter, Rhonda Fleming, Jan Miner, and Camila Ashland. Other productions have starred Gloria Swanson and Elaine Stritch

2001 revival

After 32 previews, a second revival directed by Scott Elliott opened on November 8, 2001 at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 77 performances. The cast included Kristen Johnston, Rue McClanahan, Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Tilly, Heather Matarazzo, and Hallie Kate Eisenberg. Fashion guru Isaac Mizrahi won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, and Coolidge was nominated as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. This production was also filmed for the PBS series Stage On Screen. The television broadcast premiere took place on June 8, 2002.

Film versions

The 1939 film version was directed by George Cukor and starred Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Supporting cast included Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine and Mary Boland. In 1956, the story was made into a musical film titled The Opposite Sex, starring June Allyson and Joan Collins. Diane English directed and co-wrote a long-in-development contemporary remake of the film, starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes and Annette Bening, which was released in 2008.

Television adaptation

On February 7, 1955, the NBC anthology drama series Producers' Showcase broadcast an adaptation of the play. Paulette Goddard, Mary Boland and Ruth Hussey, who had each appeared in the 1939 film, also appeared in this production, as Sylvia Fowler, the Countess and Mary Haines, respectively.

External links

• 1936 Broadway production
• 1973 Broadway revival
• 2001 Broadway revival
• Turner Classic Movies article on The Women
• "The Women" Past & Present @ LaFemmeReel.com