A Bill of Divorcement: A Play in Three Acts

The play centers on a troubled family caught in the emotional aftermath of a divorce and the consequences of mental illness. The central character is Hilary Fairfield a woman whose husband who had been committed to an asylum for many years is unexpectedly released. The reunion with her estranged husband who is still emotionally disturbed forces Hilary to confront past decisions and the disintegration of her marriage. Hilary's struggle becomes even more complicated when her daughter Margaret who has grown up without her father is drawn into the emotional turmoil of the situation. Margaret finds herself torn between loyalty to her mother and the attraction she feels for a new suitor. The play’s central conflict revolves around the choices the characters must make in order to resolve their tangled emotions deal with past traumas and face the consequences of their actions. The idea of mental illness and the societal stigma surrounding it are explored particularly the role it plays in family dynamics and marital breakdowns.