Digital Program

Who among us doesn’t carry an opinion about the institution of marriage? Whether single, engaged, married, widowed, or divorced, we all feel something about it. We may love it, loathe it, long for it, fantasize about it, or even resent it. Even those who profess indifference often conceal a trace of skepticism. Few are truly neutral when it comes to marriage.

Nikolai Gogol, the master of satire, wrote The Marriage as a sharp and witty exploration of the rituals that surround courtship and matrimony. His play offers a comic yet unsettling glimpse into the expectations, anxieties, and absurdities of this universal institution.

The Marriage feels, in many ways, like a 19th-century speed-dating event. As with modern dating, Gogol’s suitors and the bride-to-be (accompanied by an eager entourage) arrive with wildly inflated hopes, where appearances and material wealth play an outsized role in determining fate.

Through a distorting, yet revealing mirror, Gogol invites us to laugh at the irrationality of the courtship dance. The fantasy of devoting oneself to another for life is enchanting—but for many, it’s also terrifying. The tension between the fear of commitment and the fear of solitude pulses at the core of the play. It is this universal paradox that makes Gogol’s work as relevant today as it was in his time.

In this production, we have embraced Gogol’s satirical lens. Through humor, we expose the flaws of human nature: foolishness, vanity, insensitivity, greed, ego, and superficiality. Our creative approach seeks to balance truthful, grounded performances with bold, cartoon-like aesthetics, crafting a whimsical and heightened world that echoes Gogol’s sharp wit and vivid imagination.

When we first encountered The Marriage, it struck us as goofy, silly, light, and full of surprises. It felt messy, unserious, and naïve, yet witty, extravagant, and intimate. Its contradictions intrigued us—the play is jubilant and awkward, fast and chaotic, electric and absurd. But amidst all its irony and humor, we found an undeniable truthfulness that still resonates today.

At its heart, The Marriage examines appearances, social pressures, and the yearning to solve life’s big dilemmas—particularly those surrounding love, partnership, and belonging. It navigates themes of deception, loneliness, societal expectations, impulsiveness, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships.

With a spirit of playful curiosity and respect for Gogol’s satirical genius, we’ve explored the outrageousness of these situations and characters, creating a vibrant, stylized world. We hope this production brings to life the absurdity, humor, and enduring humanity that The Marriage has to offer.

Thank you for coming and enjoy the show!