John Loves Mary

by Norman Krasna

John Lawrence, who has been overseas three years, is welcomed home by the charming Mary McKinley. These two are and have been in love with each other. John's life had been saved while he was overseas by his buddy Fred Taylor. Fred returned home a year before John, and John brings him what should be a pleasant surprise news that he has married Lily, an English girl Fred had fallen in love with and who could not hope to get to America for years unless as the wife of a G.I. John therefore marries her and plans to deliver her to Fred. John hopes to get a quick divorce from Lily and marry Mary. Mary and her family have, of course, no notion what has happened, and John is up against it when Mary and her family insist upon an immediate wedding. Matters are not helped when it is learned that Fred has, meantime, not only married but is an expectant father. John and Fred get in touch with a former officer of their acquaintance and have him pretend to call John for special extra service for six weeks out West. This plan also falls through, and in despair, Mary and her family agree that John has lost interest in his fiancee. Things look hopeless until it turns out that Lily was actually married to the same officer whom the boys have induced to order John back to duty. That officer had sent word to Lily of his "unfortunate" death. The jig is up and all ends happily.

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Norman Krasna writes great one-liners. In this very timely for its period farce, a GI returning from World War II is about to tell his finacee that he married his best friend's wartime sweetheart, only to learn that the friend has married the girl back home and is awaiting the birth of his first child. The GI engages in a variety of subterfuges to delay his marriage until he can divorce his unintented war bride, most of which could be resolved easily by simply telling the truth. Nonetheless, it's an engaging play that would work well for a community theatre.

[William Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two acts are quite strong, funny, but act 3 felt underdone—the complications weren’t as fully realized or played out as possible, and the resolution was way too rushed. Showed promise, but nowhere near was well constructed and written as his first big hit DEAR RUTH.