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 I Married You is my favorite due to how it portrays God’s wisdom regarding marriage and His mercy when we fail to live by His wisdom. Even though the story occurs in Africa, the themes are universal. In the early 2000s, I contacted Ingrid Trobisch and requested her permission to write a stage play. She was overjoyed and provided me many details and insights not found in Walter’s book.
How to Enjoy the Drama
You don’t need to wait for a theatre to perform I Married You. Just read it. Admittedly, reading a script by yourself is dull. However, if two or more divide up the roles and read it with expression, the magic of drama happens! So I invite you to read I Married You with your beloved or a small group of friends. Possible settings include:
- Any couple, married or not, who wishes to explore the significance of marriage
- One or more couples who are dating, engaged, or married
- A couple on Valentines Day, an anniversary, or anytime
- A family with teen children
- Youth and young adult groups
- Home groups
- A wedding shower
- A bachelor or bachelorette event
Tony Award winners are not needed. Just divide up the nine roles as you wish. Also someone should narrate the theatrical descriptions of scene, set, lights, and action. Those who wish can prepare by reading the script alone ahead of time. Then when you all gather, simply read it as dramatically as you are able.
Since it’s a 2-act play, you can break it up into shorter reading sessions. An informal dramatic reading done serially — one to three scenes at a time — provides pauses for people to ponder the dilemmas and options facing the nine characters in the play.
- What will happen next? What choices will the characters make?
- What would I do if I were in a certain character’s shoes?
- What actions, lines, or Bible verses in this scene took center stage in my mind and heart?
- In response to what stands out, ask: “God, what specific act of obedience do You wish me to do this week? Listen for His answer and write it down. Do it and see what occurs.
- Also ask: “Lord, during the coming week with whom could I share details from this portion of I Married You?” Record the Lord’s answer. Then do it and see what results.
Your group reading experience will be enhanced as you share your responses to these questions and report how the Lord blesses your obedience and your sharing of the play’s message with others. Keep in mind that this is not a competition, it is group learning, and God is your teacher. Keep a notebook or journal of what you experience as you follow His instructions in the real life drama of life.
Download your free PDF copy of I Married You.
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. Since the drama is international by nature, people from a mixture of cultures may unite to stage I Married You together. What a unique opportunity for folks from different ethnic groups to serve God shoulder to shoulder (Zephaniah 3:9-10). Feel free to include musical elements from your cultural setting in your production.
Invite the neighbors to your performance, and offer them follow-up events about dating and marriage. By filming your production, you can multiply the impact of your production Online video formats can provide a forum for video productions of the play to be seen more widely
Permission is granted to reproduce sufficient copies for your drama group (or film crew). No royalty is charged for performing this play, as long as no major changes are made in the script, and full credit is given to the author in the playbill and all promotional ads.
Download your free PDF copy of I Married You.
Please inform me if you are preparing to stage or film the play. I will be praying for your success.