Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: The New York Idea

"The New York Idea" by Langdon Mitchell is a comedic play which looks at marriage, divorce, and tricky social connections in early 1900s New York high society. The story focuses on Judge Philip Phillimore and the lively Cynthia Karslake, who are dealing with love and what society expects from them. The play kicks off with Philip and Cynthia about to get married, right after Cynthia's recent divorce, and the first scenes poke fun at the shallow lives of the rich as family and friends share their thoughts about the remarriage. Through funny conversations, the characters wrestle with what's considered normal, their pasts, and the fallout from their decisions, making for a funny take on love and expectations.