

Who is Sylvia?
Terence Rattigan
Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs.
Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities.
Greg brings home a dog he found in the park or that has found him – a pup bearing the name “Sylvia” on her name tag.
A street-smart mixture of Lab and poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife.
She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age, but to Kate, Sylvia is a rival for affection.
The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives.
The twist in this crowd-pleasing comedy is that Sylvia is played by a woman, making her rivalry with Kate for Greg’s affection feel all too human.
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"Dramatic literature is stuffed with memorable love scenes, but none is as immediately delicious and dizzy as the one that begins the redeeming affair in A.R. Gurney’s new comedy, Sylvia."
— The New York Times
"Gurney’s mad comedy is the most endearing good time to trot down the pike in many a moon. Howlingly funny."
— BackStage
| Character |
|---|
| Greg |
| Kate |
| Tom, Phillis, Leslie Preferably to be played by one other actor |
| Sylvia |
Sylvia – The Funniest Comedy in Town
Sylvia is a American comedy play written by A R Gurney and published by Dramatists Play Service in New York (2026).
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