The Women is a 1936 serio-comic play by Clare Boothe Luce that depicts the world of the 1930s from a woman’s point of view. It touches on the definition of real friendship, differences in class, enduring love, betrayal in all its forms, justified revenge, and forgiveness. It is full of fast-paced dialogue and a cast of interesting and well-developed characters.
It is rumored that Clare Boothe Luce wrote this as a tirade against the rich and ridiculous ladies of 1930s Park Avenue, the well-to-do of New York, highlighting their weaknesses. The primary character, Mary Haines, is led by friends who do not even consider what is best for her.
We follow Mary as she becomes her own person. We watch as she learns to make up her own mind about what is important to her (regardless of others’ opinions), claims her independent decisions, and finds friends who truly support her.
Even though men play an important role in the lives of the characters, there are no male characters in the play. It is a story about love, trust, power, and life as seen through the eyes of a woman during the late 1930s. And, although the subject matter can be serious, this play is witty, humorous and meant to rival the traditional comedies of its time.
