The Women

The Women is a comedy written about eight Manhattan women. It follows the elite socialites, the women attempting to become elite, and the gossip and drama that relatively destroys their lives. Clare Boothe Luce's play opened on Broadway in 1936, where it ran for 666 performances.

The play was transformed into a movie in 1939. It was directed by George Cukor and starred Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Next, the play was turned into a musical film, called The Opposite Sex, in 1956. The play first revived on Broadway in 1973 and closed after a short run of 63 performances. It was once again was revived in 2001. Finally, and most famously, it was remade into the 2008 film staring Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes.

The plot revolves around women attempting to play their "correct" roles in a vain and fake society. When Mary, a good housewife, finds out her husband, Steven, is cheating on her with an "up-and-commer", Crystal, she originally goes out of her way to try to make herself better. Eventually, she leaves him to focus on herself.The other women go through similar power struggles to figure out who they are and what they want.

One of the most important dramaturgical choices is the fact that while the play seemingly circles around men, no men are ever shown onstage. It makes you focus on the women and their inner struggles, and their inner strength, rather then the power the receive or have taken away from them by the men in their lives.