Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

Not to be confused with domestic tragedy, One Good Marriage by Sean Reycraft is a subtle two character exploration of an enormous family tragedy. We meet the couple, Steph and Stewart on their first wedding anniversary and they are ready to tell their story . " They're all dead!" exclaims Steph, getting ahead of herself," Everyone's dead!" Backing up, they begin their tale of the tragic accident that occurred at their wedding reception after they'd left on their honeymoon. That Steph and Stewart didn't learn of it until their return and had to hear of it from others, enlivens their retelling. News is filtered through the town's characters, like the unbearable Trish who lives next door.

Steph is splendidly portrayed by the engaging Siobhan Power. She and the solicitous Stewart (Justin Conley) are schematically drawn yet create a believability as the small town couple. She's the English teacher who's begun to have grammatical mishaps and he's the High School librarian who'd rather file than read. There are some very funny and poignant moments concerning misfortune, blame and bad luck. Even students hand in all assignments lest they anger the teacher.

Each first holiday since the accident is marked and the magnitude of the loss is compiled - Steph and Stewart have, as sole survivors, inherited quite a bit of money, fifteen houses and an inordinate amount of stuff. Their yard sale fills a football field. But mostly, they have suddenly lost all connections: no grandmother, no parent, no uncle, no cousin, no one. They are entirely alone.

One Good Marriage is a well crafted play, slowly revealing each realization of loss, sustaining interest in what has befallen this family and where Steph and Stewart will go from here. Diana Belshaw's direction is taught, sensitive to the sorrow while appreciating its humor. With two chairs, not set, no props, two actors have fully realized this tale. Well done!