About the Play:

I Take This Man is a full-length comedy by Jack Sharkey. A young Boston woman spots a man unconscious near the finish line of the Boston Marathon after the race is over and figures he must be Mr. Right, since "nice guys finish last." Fantasy and deep-seated desperation bubble to the surface in this family-friendly cross between a romantic comedy and a screwball farce.

I Take This Man is set in Boston during the city's famed marathon. A beautiful young art curator Gideon Hollis a.k.a. Giddy spots a handsome man in a tank top and shorts lying unconscious in Copley Square just after all other Boston Marathon racers have crossed the finish line. Inventive Giddy is looking to end her single life. She reasons that since nice guys finish last, he must be Mr. Right! She has an obliging policeman carry him back to her nearby apartment, shocking her roommate whose fiance is due for a dinner date. She calls her prize "Antonio," because she's always wanted to meet an Italian man. When Antonio regains consciousness and cannot remember who he is, Giddy tells him they are married and regrets her subterfuge when he tries to be a loving husband. Complications and plot twists escalate at a furious pace in this outrageous concoction of wild, warm, and lightning-paced hilarity that is perfect for the entire family.

I Take This Man premiered in 1991 at Ramada London Bridge Resort by the Drury Lane Repertory Players in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Since then the play has been produced widely at high schools, colleges, and community theatres.

Cast: 2 female, 3 male

What people say:

"[By] the King of G rated comedy." — Wall Street Journal

"I Take This Man is a situational comedy that's light-hearted, old- fashioned fare somewhat similar to a television re-run of Three's Company ... It's got likeable characters who end up in the zaniest of situations, but despite stirring up mass confusion, always end up smiling.
The comedy ranges from snappy one-liners to a more physical brand, and all in all it's pretty easy to take ... This is a fun show ... It's enjoyable family entertainment." — Sault Star (Ontario)

"The play was humorously convincing and delightful to all ages." — Picayune Item

"Sit back, enjoy and be prepared for a laugh-out-loud couple of hours." — The San Diego Union-Tribune

"For sheer silliness, it's hard to top I Take This Man, Jack Sharkey's theatrical sitcom ... you'll laugh a lot and remember nothing the next morning. It's simply a pleasant escape from reality." — Gazette Telegraph

About the Author:

Jack Sharkey (1931-1992) was an exceedingly prolific American playwright who wrote science fiction and humour for magazines before embarking upon his playwriting career. He has 83 published plays written under his own name and four others: Rick Abbot, Monk Ferris, Mark Chandler, and Mike Johnson. Virtually all of his work was written for community theatre.