The Marriage of Bette & Boo

by Christopher Durang

As the play begins Bette and Boo are being united in matrimony, surrounded by their beaming families. But as the further progress of their marriage is chronicled it becomes increasingly clear that things are not working out quite as hoped for. The birth of their son is followed by a succession of stillborns; Boo takes to drink; and their respective families are odd lots to say the least: His father is a sadistic tyrant, who refers to his wife as the dumbest woman in the world; while Bette's side includes a psychotic sister who endures lifelong agonies over her imagined transgressions and a senile father who mutters in unintelligible gibberish. For solace and counsel they all turn to Father Donnally, a Roman Catholic priest who dodges their questions by impersonating (hilariously) a strip of frying bacon. Conveyed in a series of dazzlingly inventive interconnected scenes, the play moves wickedly on through three decades of divorce, alcoholism, madness and fatal illness all treated with a farcical brilliance which, through the author's unique talent, mines the unlikely lodes of irony and humor residing in these ostensibly unhappy events.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Fiction, Humor, Poetry Plays, Satire

83 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Rocky Horror was 10% less weird.

If you read this as an autobiographical play then it is very immature and self indulgent but then again so am I. Very campy and funny and sad. Probably very risqué in 1985 as well.

(Random book from the street again, naturally).

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

SNOOZE FEST

[Ak · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have read this many dozens of times and lol, if anything, more with each reading. YOU DON'T VACUUM GRAVY!!!!

[Pattie O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know that you NEED to have been raised Catholic to enjoy this, but it helps.

One of my favorite plays...

[Karen Berlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covering three decades of marriage, this dark "comedy" play of 33 brief scenes pulls back the curtain on family dysfunction in a way that may have been nuanced when it was first produced in 1985, but seems obvious and less humorous to the 21st century reader. Maximizing the flaws in each of the characters, the overall theme is the contrast between outward appearance and reality of family life. The play may have more appeal when experienced as suggested, a book club read-aloud enactment.

[J Dubyuh]

“Holidays would regulate joy so that anyone who didn’t feel joy on those days would feel bad. Single people would be sad they were single. Married people would be sad they were married. Everyone would feel disappointment that their lives had fallen so short of their expectations.”

This play, and I don’t say this often, made me guffaw. I mean when’s the last time you guffawed at something?

[Tom Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite play by Durang. Ever. Hands down. When his mother is on her death bed and says, "I'm an Aries. I make life decisions by writing on pieces of paper and throwing them all up in the air," I died. Please read this play. And cry. And laugh. Do it all, and thank me if you want.

[Vika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.8 stars. A required one for Theater. I am gonna direct this play for my IB diploma.

[Stevefk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Prior to 2020 I had read few plays. Then I started the new reading year with a play by August Wilson, Fences. And it was terrific. So I read another August Wilson play, The Piano Lesson. And it was terrific. So... try another play? Why not. I read The Marriage of Bette & Boo, and it turns out maybe I don't love plays so much as I love the writing of August Wilson. Bette & Boo did nothing for me. The humor was forced and lame & I ended up attempting to speed read through the last 20 pages or so, just to be done with the thing. Since I cannot speed read at all, it was really just skipping those pages. Oh, well.

[Peter Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a dark read, and one to check out if you want to read all the Durang cannon. Not my favorite as it got pretty dark the whole time with brief moments from the priest.

It says it's a dark comedy, but I'd say for the most part it's a drama.

[Maeve Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

first read of 2025 and an all time favourite. shed a wee tear at the end. perfect combination of two of my favourite things; religion and philosophy.
fave quote=
“i don’t think god punishes people for specific things, i think he punishes them in general, for no reason”

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

written in 1985 and before it is a family dysfunction parade. Whatever makes for typically tough family dynamics is here. Not as funny as it hopes to be, instead it is pitiful.

[Sam Doolittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this since college. Some parts of it are timelessly funny.

[Christina Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The racism and death of babies may not be to modern sensibilities, but it's a comic play that will harrow your heart. And can be damn funny.

[Layne Seaman]

Enjoyed this one! Really quick. (I don’t rate plays😁)

[Olivia O’Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite - although it’s formally interesting and does pretty much work, it felt a bit too all over the place, tiresome, and messy to me

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m extremely fond of anything dysfunctional and zany and this was a trip.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the reception from the audience was half insulted, half confused and shamefully entertained overall after our student produced version of durang's play, I loved this play. Playing the part of Emily was so interesting and fun. Because it was student-run, I made a lot of my own props. I had a folder for Emily's letters and drawings covered in "Jesus loves me" stickers collected from years of sunday school, and I had so much fun crafting letters on stage for many of the cast members from emily. A really interesting play, even if the majority of our high school didn't think so.

[Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its autobiographic feel and its “memory play” structure, “The Marriage of Bette and Boo” feels like Christopher Durang’s most personal play, but who knows? Our darkest comic absurdist writes his “Long Day’s Journey into Night”, his “Glass Menagerie,” and the effect, let us say, is rather funnier than those two. Devastatingly, squirmingly funny and sad. His angriest and most mature work.

[Nikhil · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a black comedy about a crumbling Catholic marriage in mid-century America. The pacing is awkwardly nonlinear, the scenes are too short, and throughout I felt as though I was missing some cute inside joke. I'm not averse to absurdist staging (I loved "Waiting for Godot"), but this is poorly executed and doesn't appear to make any kind of point. There are no redeeming qualities.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in this play twice and directed it once.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious. insane. wonderful.

[Brian]

i enjoyed Durang's staging notes at the end

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dark humor in this play can be very funny. I recomend it, but some people may not like it.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a Durang fan. Messed up people doing messed up things, but he doesn't really *say* anything.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watched this at KCACTF, region VII in 2010. It was definitely an interesting first KCACTF experience. Not for the faint of heart.

[Chambers Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first full length plays I directed. Every night the audience was moved from laughter to tears. Believe me it wasn't my direction. The play is just that good.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very predictable. A story merely written to convey a point and even then, not done very well.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is is the greatest play on the modern divorced family. It is dark, hilarious, and honest.