Mixed Doubles: An Entertainment on Marriage (London: Methuen, 1970) is a programme consisting of a series of eight short plays or revue sketches, each with two characters, composed by various English playwrights. It was first performed on 6 February 1969 in the Hampstead Theatre Club with the title, We Who Are About To.... The programme was then presented as Mixed Doubles: An Entertainment on Marriage at the Comedy Theatre, London, on April 9, 1969.

The eight dramatic sketches, each portraying marriage at a different stage of life, are linked together by a series of anti-authoritarian monologues written by George Melly. Taken together, the programme presents an acidly humorous image of marriage from the moment of blessing up until the silver wedding anniversary. In the course of the programme, a large number of people appear on stage in various professional capacities. The characters in Mixed Doubles appear to be plagued by everyday trivialities, their pasts, their jobs, and their marital problems.

[edit] The revue sketches

• "The Vicar", by George Melly
• "A Man's Best Friend", by James Saunders
• "The Bank Manager", by George Melly
• "Score", by Lyndon Brook
• "The Lawyer", by George Melly
• "Norma", by Alun Owen
• "The Nannie", by George Melly
• "Night", by Harold Pinter
• "The Advertising Man", by George Melly
• "Permanence", by Fay Weldon
• "The Headmaster", by George Melly
• "Countdown", by Alan Ayckbourn
• "The Union Official", by George Melly
• "The Silver Wedding", by John Griffith Bowen

On "Countdown," by Alan Ayckbourn, from "One Act Plays" (alanayckbourn.net):

[edit] External links

• Countdown on official Ayckbourn website