I Married You
When Walter and Ingrid Trobisch were missionaries in Cameroon from 1953-1963, young Africans flooded them with questions about dating and marriage. The counseling opportunities led Walter and Ingrid to write many books which were translated into several languages, thus helping couples all over the world. Of all their books my favorite is I Married You.
From Book to Drama
In 1972 a friend told me, “You should read this story about a counselor who comes to an African city to lecture about marriage. He soon meets several couples seeking his advice about their troubled relationships. One woman in particular is a mystery whom you learn more about bit by bit. Later, when the counselor’s wife arrives, they get into such a furious argument that they need a marriage counselor too.”
Intrigued, I read I Married You and loved how it portrays God’s wisdom regarding marriage and God’s mercy when we fail to live by His wisdom. Even though it happens in Africa, the themes are universal. That’s why I gave away dozens of copies as wedding gifts. I also urged film makers to adapt the book to the screen, but no one accepted the challenge. So in the early 2000s, I decided to try writing a stage play. I contacted Ingrid, and she was overjoyed. Her insights helped me to enhance the play with details not told in the book.
One problem though: I didn’t know how to write a full-length drama. I’m forever grateful for the professional advice, honesty, patience, and encouragement provided by my friend and theatre director Carin Bratlie.
How to Enjoy the Drama
You don’t need wait to for a theatre to perform I Married You. Just read it. Admittedly, reading a script by yourself is dull. But what happens if two or more people divide up the roles, read the script ahead of time, and then sit down to read it together? That’s when the magic of drama happens!
Read I Married You dramatically with your beloved. Or read it with family or friends. Possible settings:
- A couple on Valentines Day, an anniversary, or anytime
- One or more couples who are dating, engaged, or married
- A family with teen children
- Youth and young adult groups
- Home groups
- A wedding shower
- A bachelor or bachelorette event
Since it’s a 2-act play, you can break it up into shorter reading sessions. An informal dramatic reading done serially — a few scenes at a time — provides time in between sessions to ponder: What will happen next? What would I do if I were in a certain character’s shoes?
So breaking up (the reading) is not hard to do. In fact, it’s an advantage, because where the real drama occurs is in your own heart, as you ponder the dilemmas and choices facing the couples in the play.
To Stage a Performance
I Married You is suitable for performance by any church, mission, or theatre troupe that cares about portraying the biblical foundations of marriage, and proclaiming Christ. Invite the neighbors to your performance and offer them follow-up events about dating and marriage. Online video formats can provide a forum for video productions of the play to be seen more widely.
I envision that people from a mixture of cultures might unite to stage I Married You together. What a unique opportunity for folks from different ethnic roots to serve God shoulder to shoulder (Zephaniah 3:9-10).
Permission is granted to reproduce sufficient copies for your drama group. No royalty is charged for performing this play, as long as no changes are made in the script, and full credit is given to the author in the playbill and all promotional ads.
Please inform me if you plan to stage the play. I will be praying for your success.