Summary of "A Matter of Husbands"
Full Summary
The one-act play "A Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar presents a twisted story revolving around an earnest young woman who suspects her husband, a lawyer, of having an affair with a famous actress. Troubled by suspicions, she approaches the actress, pleading for her to give her husband back. The actress denies any involvement, claiming she only knows the husband professionally and has no personal relationship with him.
To alleviate the woman’s fears, the actress weaves a fictional story about a man who pretends to have an affair to make his wife jealous and rekindle their love. She persuades the woman that the husband's actions are part of this ruse, causing the young woman to doubt her suspicions and apologize for the misunderstanding.
However, as soon as the woman leaves, the actress calls her lover, Alfred—who is the husband in question—revealing the deception. The play exposes the double standard nature of human beings, showing how appearances can be deceiving both in personal relationships and on the theatrical stage. It highlights the complexity of trust, jealousy, and deceit, reminding the audience not to take things at face value but to seek deeper truth beneath the surface.
Overall, "A Matter of Husbands" critiques human nature’s tendency toward duplicity and explores the blurred lines between reality and performance, both in life and theatre.