“The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war.” —John Lyly 1578
By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO –Mary’s Wedding, a timeless story of a burgeoning romance, delights Scripps Ranch Theatre audiences. The short play runs only about 90 minutes, but is so filled with dialogue, movement and history that the viewer is completely absorbed into this re-enactment of young love prior to and during World War I.
Written by Steven Massicote and directed by Kate Rose Reynolds, this two-actor play explores the human condition of falling in love during a time of upheaval. “It is incredibly timeless,” said Reynolds in a telephone interview. “Love and war are the oldest stories we have.” This was the director’s challenge; to deliver the playwright’s message in a way that is fresh and not cheesy or overly sentimental.
Without reservation, I can say that the director rose to, met, and surpassed her goal. Mary (Liliana Talwatte) and Charlie (Dennis O’Connor) meet in a barn in Canada during a rainstorm. The story is told as a dream fugue and this ethereal quality allows it to defy the norms of linear time. “It begins at the end and ends at the beginning,” Mary tells the audience. The two twenty-somethings develop their romance through banter, letters, arranged meetings and caresses. And then, Charlie enlists to go fight the Germans.
The tale unfurls as Mary glides back and forth between the moments leading up to the war, and reading the letters Charlie has sent her from No Man’s Land. The character of Sergeant Flowers (also Talwatte), Charlie’s commanding officer, is based on an actual historical figure. The British-trained sergeant offers Charlie advice, not just about fighting and war strategy, but about life and love.
The romance between the two feels authentic. We see them grow from being a bit wary of each other, to becoming vulnerable and eventually to loving and leaning on each other. Had the war not interfered or had Charlie not enlisted, viewers can assume the pair would have gone on to lead a happy, fulfilled life. Yet, war and obligation win out in the idealistic youth, and his choice does have real and brutal consequences.
The physical aspect of this play is beautiful. A very simple set serves as the background for the love story, yet it is the interaction of the actors with this space that is mesmerizing. When riding the horse, Charlie’s cantering is credible. The movement of his upper body syncs in perfect time with the horse. When the bombing and shelling occur, Charlie’s responses are more than believable. The creative and beautiful set was designed by Dixon Fish.
I asked Reynolds if this play, performed in 2025, carries any different message than when it was written in 2002 and was told, “ It’s just as relevant as when it was written because war doesn’t change. The technology may change but the emotional toll and feeling evoked have not changed at all.” This play is near to the director’s heart as she had portrayed Mary in a production in 2012 in upstate New York.
I wanted to know what the director hoped Scripps Ranch Theatre audiences would take away from the show. “I am grateful they are willing to go on the journey with us. I hope that it makes them feel and leaves them thinking, aware that the theatre is a great medium for storytelling.” Again, I think Kate Rose Reynolds has done just this. I know this theatregoer will be reflecting on this story for quite some time.
Mary’s Wedding runs through April 27th, and tickets may be purchased by phone at 858.395.0573 or online at scrippsranchtheatre.org
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.