On Saturday, March 19, 2016, the “Married But Single” stage play premiered at the Orpheum Theatre for the Los Angeles stop of the cast’s nation-wide tour. The play, written, directed and produced by playwright Je’Caryous Johnson, portrays the struggles of being married but feeling single, and being single yet desiring the commitment that comes with marriage.
The plot presents quite an interesting dynamic between family, friends, lovers, married couples, and a fast talking pimp. Leading lady Lisa Raye McCoy plays Sharon Wilson, girlfriend to Julian Johnson, a young, talented and extremely fine man who loves Sharon, but lacks direction in his commitment. Played by Terrell Carter, Julian proposes to Sharon with an empty box and ends up losing the woman of his dreams to her ex fiancé, Will Hamilton, played by actor Darrin Henson. Will is a karate chopping, smooth crooning, military man who doesn’t mind the chase to get that ‘old thing’ back, and gives Julian a run for his money, or his girl, in this case.
In an interview with Henson, he provided his thoughts on the concept of being married but single. “I would hallucinate that some who’s married but single is not in a oneship, they’re in a relationship. Our lives our based on the questions that we ask ourselves, so it’s time to ask better questions,” Henson said.
In the midst of the sudden love triangle as theatrically portrayed, Julian’s father, played by actor Clifton Powell, tries rekindling their broken father-son relationship while giving advice on just how to get his woman back. Powell says that “When you get married, you’ve got to be spiritually ready.” “ If you’re not spiritually ready and you don’t take the time to build a friendship, then you’re going to be married but single,” Powell uttered.
As the play continues, a combination of bitterness, jealousy and plain hateration arise when Sharon’s roommate, played by La’Myia Good, breaks ‘girl code’ and pushes up on Sharon’s ex fiancé Will. Good’s character just can’t seem to understand why Sharon finds men at her becking call, while she continues to sit on the sideline single and looking for love. One night, the overzealous roommate goes overboard with her attraction to Will and ends up sleeping with him behind Sharon’s back in the apartment they share.
Good says that the key to singlehood is focusing on you and becoming whole in order to bring value to a partnership. Good says if you’re married, it’s important to “stay in truth and in your covenant” and fight for your relationship. “It’s sticking to your commitment and really working on it,” Good continued.
Meanwhile, as the play progresses, singer Lisa Bryson, played by Chrisette Michelle, Lance Carter, played by Samson Logan, depict long-time friends who are both struggling in their respective marriages. Lisa finds herself swooning over Lance, looking to fill the void of loneliness in her marriage, while Lance finds himself reminiscing on old times with Lisa at Sugar Sweet’s Lounge where she sings. Eventually, the two married couples turn to prayer and successfully fight the temptation of rekindling an old fling.
In the midst of the drama between lovers and friends, actor Carl Anthony Payne kept the laughter going in his all too funny role as a 21st century pimp attempting to encourage his friends while keeping his pimp game strong. “Married But Single” continues to make waves in theatres around the nation.
