Life in a Marital Institution

LIFE IN A MARITAL INSTITUTION (20 years of monogamy in one terrifying hour)
Written and Performed by JAMES BRALY
At 59E59
March 5, 2008, 8:30 PM.
Gen admin. With Brian.

James Braly, man, his wife is, depending on your mindset, either a free spirit or absolutely bonkers. Mr. Braly details his relationship with Susan from the moment they meet in a Hungarian Pastry Shop (you know, the one up by Columbia U) and she snatches his notebook away from him to edit the poem he is writing about his ex-girlfriend and through their years of dating and marriage, which include some absolutely cringe-worthy moments. (Who knew placenta-eating was so common?)

He’s no actor, and makes no attempt at theatrics. Instead, we are treated to an hour with an affable man with a pretty decent, eyebrow-raising story. A sort of Mr. Rogers with the proverbial sweater off. This is what I think is the key to the ultimate question: Are they still together? Seven years into their relationship, still dating, they befriend a beautiful French woman. James doesn’t sleep with her; though the opportunity is there, he is loyal to Susan. Years later, they meet again. James still doesn’t sleep with her. In between visits from the Most Beautiful Woman In the World, they have kids, Susan decides to let the kids self-wean, effectively leaving James to himself as there is no room for him in bed with a four year old and six year old fighting for mommy. And he still doesn’t sleep with the French woman.

The stories of Susan are intercut with an account of his last days at the bedside of his dying sister along with his bickering family and a universally hated boyfriend.

‘Would you trade places with me?’ she says.
‘Would you be married to Susan?’ he counters.
‘No.’

He doesn’t tell us if he and Susan are still married. He asks, ‘would you stay married to her?’ Well, maybe not, but from the way he portrays his part in all this, I have a strong feeling that he would.