A Contract of Love

Overview

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ Although this statement may have rung true for Jane Austen circa Pride and Prejudice, her characters also got about in girdles and styled their hair like so — times have changed. A Contract of Love sees the Malthouse play host to a night of discussion and debate regarding the pros and cons of putting a ring on it, post millennium.

Richard Watts (Smart Arts 3RRR) leads a debate that is bound to be fierier than your average neighbourhood domestic and coincides with the theatre's season of Dance of Death, a performance that explores one couple's experience of 25 years of wedded hell (you get less for murder). Panellists include writer and broadcaster Helen Razer (The Big Issue), the walking minority that is gay and Asian writer Benjamin Law (Gaysia, The Family Law), gay activist and Professor Dennis Altman (The End of the Homosexual?) and marriage equality campaigner Jacqui Tomlins.

While the evidence is overwhelmingly negative (Britney in Vegas, Kimmy K and Kris and Carrie left at the altar), Pippa Middleton’s ass stands in strong defence of tying the knot — a reminder of the beauty that can come out of a well executed wedding. I do?