Divorce On Common Terms

The large number of pokes that are made at marriages often make couples who enjoy blissful marriages wonder under what circumstances those cynical jokes were born.

For example: “Marriage is like a city besieged. Those inside want to get out and those outside want to get in.” Or the Akan proverb that translates literally as “If you fear divorce, you are likely not to have a good marriage.”

Many couples who are having a smooth ride in their marriage may laugh on hearing these but others who have not had it so smooth may take them quite seriously.

Whichever side one may find himself on in the debate may be confirmed or disputed after watching Ebo Whyte and his Roverman Productions put up their latest play, Terms of Divorce at the National Theatre this Saturday and Sunday.

In Terms of Divorce, Ethel, a bitter and unhappy woman, wants a divorce from her husband of 20 years. She engages Michael Ababio as her lawyer.

Her outraged husband, Ralph Arthur, on the other hand, picks Baaba, the ex-wife of Michael to represent him. This sets the stage for fireworks in and out of court between the two lawyers and their clients.

Things come to a head when Ethel and her lawyer present their terms of divorce and Ralph and his lawyer make their counter offer which falls far short of what Ethel is demanding.

Meanwhile the court orders the couple to see a marriage counselor before the divorce is granted.

Ethel and Ralph reluctantly comply with the court’s order with only one thing in mind – to convince the counsellor that their marriage is beyond salvation.

At the marriage counselor’s place, the couple and their lawyers discover to their shock that the counselor himself had a problem in his marriage.

Terms of Divorce has been described is an unforgettable journey of emotions, excitement, wit and humour.