Marriage

“Marriage” opened the season at Wallack’s Theatre in New York City on 1 October 1877, and, although Boucicault claimed it to be the finest comedy he had ever written, it proved a critical and commercial failure, running only until 10 November 1877. One major complaint was that, with its five acts, the play was far too long and hopelessly dragged at times. Another criticism addressed the complicated series of six plots, with the New York Times noting: “In spite of the playwright’s cleverness in disentangling the skeins he has purposely thrown together, there is such a thing as making use of too many skeins.” Rich in epigram, “Marriage” reads very well, and has much to offer the literary scholar; as a dramatic event however, it was a major disappointment, and signaled the beginning of Boucicault’s decline in popularity.

The prompt book for “Marriage” found here represents the only known copy of this play, and is rich in marginalia contributed by Boucicault. As such, it is an invaluable look at the manner in which Boucicault prepared his dramas for the stage. Further, as “Marriage” was later shortened to three acts and rechristened “A Bridal Tour” in 1880, examination of the two plays together offers another exciting glimpse into Boucicault’s creative process, as he yearned for commercial success.