top of page
IMG_4885.jpg

The Golden Anniversaries

"It is wild—hitching yourself to one person,
out of all the souls in the entire universe..."

About the play

Two people, one cottage, fifty years.

Every year since they were married, Glen and Sandy Golden have been celebrating their wedding anniversary by coming to the same cottage on the lake for an annual weekend of quiet romance. And this year marks a major milestone: 50 years of wedded bliss. Well, mostly bliss... A week before the play begins, Sandy cancelled their big anniversary party and kicked Glen to the curb. And now, he wants to talk. 

Set over the course of one evening, as well as the past fifty years, Glen and Sandy recount the good, the bad, and the ugly of spending half a century together. As the reason for their recent split is revealed, the play takes on a new depth and meaning.

The Golden Anniversaries is a comedy-drama about marriage, memory, and a long-term love for the ages.

The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford - Blyth Festival
The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford - Blyth Festival

Staging Requirements

Cast: Two Actors

Two Acts: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes including interval

One Exterior Set

Press

“A funny, subtle, prickly comedy about a marriage that has lasted 50 ‘golden’ years. If Mark Crawford wasn’t such a gifted playwright, he could be a successful cardiologist because his plays and characters are so full of heart, pulsing life, and the delicate balance between good health and disaster. The Golden Anniversaries is a fine play with a beating heart bursting with life and love.”
- The Slotkin Letter

"The Golden Anniversaries may be Crawford’s most accomplished work yet, blending as it does his trademark observational comedy with soul wrenching tragedy. What could have been a facile vehicle for a series of comedic set pieces becomes much more thanks to Crawford’s acute psychological insights into his characters and his mastery of the playwright’s craft. Just when we think we know these two people and their personal soap opera inside out, Crawford throws a curve ball with an offhand cruelty that reminded me of Irish playwrights like Friel, Kilroy, and Keane. It completely rearranges our perception of what we have been seeing and it took my breath away. The Golden Anniversaries is one of those relatively rare plays that offers actors of advancing years meaty roles in which they can shine. I’m predicting a rich afterlife for the play.”

- Ontario Stage

 

“An entertaining, delightful look at life, love, and what it means to remain in love long after the sparkle of youth has passed. In a night filled with memories, banter, laughter, and tears, the Goldens remind us of the importance of love and acceptance.”
- Entertain This Thought

 

“A sure-fire hit! Brilliantly written with just enough flashbacks to help the audience understand how the Goldens got to this point, and where they’re headed. Or at least, you think you know. The Golden Anniversaries is a comedy that strikes a deep chord. ”
- Kincardine Record

"It feels impossible for any couple to see this show and not see at least a little of themselves in the characters. A seemingly simple story that crept up on the audience slowly, building into something that suddenly felt unbearably big. The Golden Anniversaries is a show you’re not going to want to miss."

- Blyth Citizen

The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford - Blyth Festival
The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford - Blyth Festival

Production History

The Golden Anniversaries had its World Premiere production at the Blyth Festival in July, 2024.

The play was commissioned and developed by Blyth Festival Theatre.

Check back for news about upcoming productions!

Get the script

To receive a perusal copy of the script, please contact Colin Rivers at Marquis Literary

 

Stay tuned for updates about publication of The Golden Anniversaries.

The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford - Blyth Festival

Gallery

The Golden Anniversaries is available to professional theatres. To inquire about licensing, please contact us.

All photos on this page from the Blyth Festival World Premiere, directed by Miles Potter, featuring Janet-Laine Green and Jim Mezon. Banner, About the Play, Staging Requirements, Production History, and Gallery Photos 2 and 3 by Gemma James-Smith. Press photo and Gallery Photos 1, 4, and 5 by Lyon Smith. Get the Script features original artwork by Autumn Ducharme.

bottom of page