BRISTOL — 5Town Friends of the Arts will present a staged reading of David Mamet’sclever drawing-room comedy, “Boston Marriage.” Diana Bigelow directs fellowBristol thespians Susanne Peck, Kendra Gratton and Gretchen Cole in thissophisticated and fanciful play.
Here’s the setup: Anna and Claire are two bantering, scheming “womenof fashion” who have long lived together on the fringes of upper-classsociety. Anna has just become the mistress of a wealthy man, from whom shehas received an enormous emerald and an income to match. Claire, meanwhile,is infatuated with a respectable young lady and wants to enlist the jealousAnna’s help for an assignation.
As the two women exchange barbs and taketurns taunting Anna’s hapless Scottish parlor maid, Catherine, Claire’syoung inamorata suddenly appears, setting off a crisis that puts both thevaluable emerald and the women’s futures at risk. To this wickedly funnycomedy, Mamet brings his trademark tart dialogue and impeccable plotting,spiced with Wildean wit.
“Boston Marriage” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on May 3, at Walkover Gallery, 15 Main St. in Bristol. Admission is by donation at the door. There is limited seating. Refreshments will be available.