Love Letters

Show Dates & Times

Theatre North’s upcoming production of Love Letters, directed by Cindy Franck  will kick off the theatre experience with a pre-show casual concert featuring Decades of Love Songs.  Featured musicians are Cara Matrella on violin, Naomi Wegemeyer on keyboard and on guitarand Anthony Hanson-Lynn. When you purchase a ticket for Love Letters you are encouraged to come one half hour before show time to enjoy the special music.  Love Letters will run three weekends beginning on Saturday January 31 at 7pm, the concert will begin at 6:30p  and Sunday February 1 at 2pm with the concert beginning at 1:30.  As a ticket holder you will select a “Love Letter” when you enter the auditorium.  One lucky ticket holder each performance will win dinner for two at the Iron Nugget who is sponsoring the production.

Susie Filippo, Sam Filippo, Judi Yatchak, Ken Saari, Helen Fashbaugh and Bruce Greenhill

Director: Cindy Franck

Sound: Al Harrison,

Lights: JoAnn Fleming, Ted Stevens

Props: Judy Holst

Love Letters is a Pulitzer Prize nominated play, written by A.R. Gurney, and Theatre North’s latest production. It is a two-person play consisting of letters that the two write to each other over a period of forty plus years, from when they were in school together through the upheaval of their separate lives. The play is the very definition of the expression “opposites attract.” Andy, is comfortable with letters; he has taken seriously the lessons his father imparted to him of responsibility for his family, his country and himself.  He is not a rebel, though he harbors rebellious thoughts on occasion. The actual rebellion is left to his friend Melissa, an artist, who says she doesn’t like writing letters, preferring face to face, and who takes risks and stretches the boundaries of what is acceptable behavior.

Their friendship is a long one. They share reminiscences of a childhood they call  the “Land of Oz” and think of it as something in a dream or a story, though it was far from “perfect” for either of them. True, there is usually safety in childhood though remembrance does color, even cloud things, but for them, reality, what is real, is the mistakes they make and have to live with as adults. The letters are honest, complete with anger and pain, as well as laugh out loud humor. The language is adult, though not overdone because, let’s face it, sometimes Oh darn just doesn’t convey it when your life is careening toward disaster.

Despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, they remain lifelong friends and reveal themselves to each other and themselves through the letters they write, keeping up with each other through life’s vagaries. They are a touchstone, each for the other. They keep each other informed on what each is going in their lives, though they don’t meet for many years. The comment is made of the fact that the two, who went to the same school, and had a sort of dysfunctional family, could have become such different people. In thinking of my own family, I find that this is true. We had the same set of parents, went to the same schools, and though we are similar, we are not clones of each other.  As a teacher I had siblings from time to time, and had to remind myself not to expect from the second child the same behavior and talent that the first might have had. That is as it should be, I think. We should be allowed to become who we want to be, pursue the interests that are ours alone, and live our lives without having to live it to someone else’s expectations.

Expressing oneself is not easy whether aloud or in print.  It is hard to get it right, to say exactly what you mean, while, at the same time, letting someone else know exactly what you mean and how you feel. This is why you have actors who enhance the words with vocal, physical, and facial expressions and you can definitely understand what is meant.

There are three couples performing on three different weekends. The words were the same, but the interpretations are nuanced with individuality. It was sheer pleasure to watch them. The play is really worth seeing, and I’m sorry that I did not see it in 1992. You will laugh, snicker, even shed a tear or two, as I did, listening to Andy and Melissa open their hearts to each other. Cindy Franck is to be highly commended for selecting this play and offering it to us with three remarkable interpretations.

The performances are Saturday, January 31st, and Sunday, February 1st with Sam and Susie Filippo; Saturday, February 7th, and Sunday, February 8th with Judy Yarchak and Ken Saari, Jr, and Saturday, February 14th, and Sunday February 15th with Helen Fashbaugh and Bruce Greenhill. Saturday performances are at 7 pm, and Sundays are at 2 pm. Go early, as there will be a trio consisting of Cara Matrella on violin, Naomi Wegmeyer on keyboards and Anthony Hanson-Lynn on guitar, playing love songs for 20-30 minutes before the play begins. Buy a ticket. You will be thoroughly entertained.

By Marie Eggleston