*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is a great stage play for married couples of all ages. Although it is geared toward the black urban audience it is still a great play to be seen by all those who are wondering 'Why Did I Get Married'? A marriage retreat is for couples only---until Trina (played wonderfully) a certified gold digger and schemer is invited. Poppy rules the roost with the jokes of a certified clown (I would say he acts as Brown in this case) and Diana is the sage who is madly in love with Terry. Terry cheated on Diana but after a week in a coma for Terry and four days in jail for Diana they seemed to work out fine.

Mike and Sheila (wonderfully played, you hated Mike and felt sorry for Sheila) are in a troubled marriage already. Mike is inattentive, Sheila is doing whatever it takes to maintain the sanity of everyone but herself in this case I'd call her martyr mom since she often neglects herself. Diana advises her to take care of herself on top of what she is doing--or cut some of it out to MAKE time to take care of Sheila.

Diana is the Madea like character here (since Tyler Perry's plays have to have a comic lead and a sidebar stooge. It's not a bad thing--that's the style he's used to and has developed over his years as a writer)she is the one that lady who rules the roost alongside Poppy (awesome character, I'd like to see a spin-off play with his universe) whose wife often did the marriage retreat and knew what to say and how to say it.

Poppy and Diana see what's going on but Diana is the only one who really says it because Poppy is too busy cracking jokes about it. Mike and Trina are fooling around and Sheila the wonderful wife she is is now left out in the cold Sheila: Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it Mike: Anything? Sheila: Yes Mike: Anything? Sheila: (pleading) Yes Mike: Go to hell After all those years of balancing the books, taking care of the kids, and school, she is now scorned by the man she so loved and now Trina tells Sheila her best friend in the world who took her to the hospital when her boyfriend beat her black and blue, paid Trina's rent when she couldn't and been the friend that is so hard to find. Mike volunteers to drive Sheila home and while Diana holds her back, she grabs the gun from Poppy's drawer and shoots a few times, catching her no good cheating husband in the butt and firing a few at Trina for good measure. This act ends with Sheila crying out to the LORD.

Act 2- A year later Sheila has lost the weight, Trina and Mike deserving enough of each other, finally are married. Trina got what she wanted--a rich husband and what's this? Troy has a woman he's bringing up to the marriage retreat and WOH! Sheila lost the weight and is lookin' good. Terry and Diana are still happy and Troy and Sheila are happy now--and Sheila is saved. Now, Mike hates Trina's spending and they argue over it, and he misses Sheila enough to call out Sheila's name while he's arguing with Trina. Sheila finally gets over Mike in the last scene but not before telling Trina that if she thinks she'll get her husband Troy, she'll kill her (they're having a boat ride and don't mind if Trina comes along. Diana might help her do it anyhow) Sheila and Mike talk and it is clear that he is not over her, but she is completely over him. Meanwhile, Troy talks to Sheila and that he senses that she's uncomfortable with Mike here. He says he can help her through it and will be there for her.

The plays usually end on the happy note, and this one is no different. I like that this one is completely new characters because he can write great stuff and the actors are so talented that they can take the writing in new directions that not even he thought of. I can't wait to see the next Madea and Brown play and if not, I want to see the next ones he'll write.

Keep it up Mr. Perry, I'm an aspiring writer too, you make it look so easy!