The Problem

by A.R. Gurney

A husband and wife are caught in a complicated and perverse spiral of sexual fantasies that enable them to keep their marriage alive.

Genres: Plays

22 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

A.R. Gurney was an American playwright and novelist.

Reviews

[Noha · Rating 4 out of 5]

the white man burden and other academic kinks

[عبدالرحمن حافظ · Rating 4 out of 5]

يرى الكاتب الأمريكي عيوب مجتمعه ويتساءل على لسان البطلة هل يحتاجون إلى زيارة الطبيب النفسي لأن سلوكهم غريب جداً. ويجيب على لسان الزوج بأن كل شىء على ما يرام طالما هما سعيدان ويعترفان بكل شىء وأن المشكلة ليست حقيقية

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A.R. Gurney’s The Problem is a sharp, satirical one-act play that delves into marital dysfunction, racial anxieties, and the absurd ways in which the upper class perceives “the other” in society. The play centers on a married couple whose emotional detachment is revealed when the wife announces she is pregnant—and that the father is not her husband, but a Black man. In a surreal twist, the husband confesses that he himself has been masquerading as that lover.

This layered absurdity makes The Problem a compelling piece for scene study, offering both biting humor and rich thematic material. Gurney’s style here recalls the influence of Edward Albee, blending domestic confrontation with social critique, and it’s precisely that combination that keeps me returning to his work.