Five Theatrical Plays About Gambling

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Gambling, in many ways, is a fitting theme for a play. It holds an element of risk or high stakes, highs, lows, and even a bit of suspense, all of which combine in a perfect recipe for a riveting storyline that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

Thanks to these entertaining qualities, it’s no surprise that gambling has made its way onto the stage. Some plays centered around this theme have had a lasting impact, leading to resurgences on the stage as well as film and TV adaptations. If that has piqued your interest, here is a list of five renowned theatrical plays about gambling.

1. Guys and Dolls (1950)

Guys and Dolls is a Tony Award-winning play where musical meets comedy. It’s a Broadway hit that many of us still know almost three-quarters of a century after its debut in 1950. The storyline is set in the bustling streets of New York City, where the audience follows the storyline of two couples: a showgirl and crapshooter and a missionary and high roller. As the events of the story unfold, gambling takes center stage in the plot, taking the characters and the audience into the world of gambling and infatuation.

The music and lyrics were written by famed composer Frank Loesser. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the play, you’re likely familiar with a few of Loesser’s songs from the show, like “A Bushel and a Peck,”“I’ll Know,” and “Luck Be a Lady.” The story was inspired by a series of short stories and co-written by playwriters Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling.

2. The Odd Couple (1965)

In 1965, The Odd Couple made its Broadway debut, and in the years since, it has been the basis for a movie and TV series. As the name suggests, the play follows the story of two roommates whose marriages have fallen apart, leaving them newly single. The two, in a trope that today feels as old as time but never fails to delight and entertain, couldn’t be more different. One’s a slovenly sportswriter, the other an organized newswriter. The play features a weekly poker night during which the differences between the pair become blatantlyobvious.

The play was written by Neil Simon, a playwriter and screenwriter responsible for more than a dozen Broadway plays. Simon’s career earned him two Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and a reputation forbeing a master of comedy.

3. The Gin Game (1976)

The Gin Game follows the story of two nursing home residents who bond over their shared love for the card game gin rummy. Naturally, this leads the story to unfold around the card games the two play together as each character reveals their story and who they truly are.While a card game may imply a light and airy story, the characters reveal hardships and disappointments they’ve faced during their lifetimes.

The play was written by D.L. Coburn, and it earned him a Pulitzer Prize. In 2003, the play was made into a movie starring Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

4. A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)

A Streetcar Named Desire debuted in 1947 and has had a lasting impact on theater. Scenes centered around gambling and drinking play critical roles in moving the plot forward, and it becomes impossible to separate them from the story’s events.

The play was written by the playwriter Tennessee Williams and earned the Pulitzer Prize the year it was released. It was adapted into a movie in 1951, just a few years after its theatrical debut, starring Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden.

The play is studied today by more than just drama students. The story touches on topics that, at the time, were relevant to daily life in America, like the aftermath of World War II. As a result, it remainsrelevant today, earning the play and its later movie adaptation recognition as a culturally significant piece.

5. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966)

The play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a unique tale of the minor characters from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Rosencrantzand Guildenstern. The pair are wandering through—where, they’re not sure. They’re also not sure why they’re wandering, but as they do, they play heads or tail, leaving their fates up to a 50/50 gamble.

The play launched in 1966 and became an international success the following year. It made its way from the British National Theater to Broadway, where it earned a Tony Award. In 1990, it was adapted into a film starring Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, and Richard Dreyfuss.

The play was written by Tom Stoppard, who is both a playwriter and screenwriter. You may recognize some of Stoppard’s scripts from his screenwriting work, as he helped bring about the films Shakespeare in Love and Anna Karenina.

Gambling Stakes Add to the Drama

While gambling may not be the main character in each of these plays, its role in each one adds to the drama, causing the story to unfold further and further. It adds to the drama, entertainment, and reality of the play (with the exception of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, in which you might say it adds to the unreality), contributingsomething to the story that we can all relate to. After all, who among us hasn’t tossed a coin, played cards, or placed a small wager, even if just through an online casino found on casinos.com?