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| Michael Learned and Daniel Davis in Love Letters. Photo by Joe del Tufo, Mobius New Media. |
Love Letters
is a unique play because the two actors never physically interact; instead,
they sit at separate desks reading letters their characters have written to
each other over the course of about 50 years. Since there is no blocking, sets
or props, the play depends solely on the strength of the actors. Thankfully, we
have two veterans in the roles who can certainly handle the challenge.
The two characters come from waspy New
York families. They both spent their formative years in boarding schools and
summer camps, but the families couldn't be more different. Melissa Gardner (Ms.
Learned) grew up with divorced parents who used their wealth to keep their
daughter happy rather than give her the attention she longed for, while Andrew
Makepeace Ladd III (Mr. Davis) grew up in a conservative household with loving,
supportive parents. The play begins in the 1930s when they meet in second
grade, and thus starts their lifelong love affair. We learn about each
character's personal and professional successes and failures through the
letters they write to each other as they attend out-of-state schools and
continue their very different lives.
They both journey into adulthood in
separate directions. Andrew becomes a Washington, DC lawyer and later a
republican New York senator, while Melissa becomes a free-spirited artist who
uses her family's money to travel the world. Although both have multiple
relationships and marry others, with whom they have families, they never stop
corresponding.
The beauty of the play is that it comes
to life through Mr. Gurney's words. The audience gets an opportunity to mentally
visualize the action rather than have it played out for them. It's a play about
these two people, but it's also about the art of letter writing, which today
has been mostly replaced by technology - emails, texts, social networks, etc.
As Melissa becomes dissatisfied with writing, Andrew reminds her of the beauty
of it and how it's an extension of him. He feels that his letters are gifts.
The two do correspond at times by phone, which we learn of their conversations
through their letters, but they always return to the art of letter writing.
Ms. Learned and Mr. Davis both give
exceptional performances. Their delivery is captivating and engaging. They have
the difficult task of bringing these characters alive through only their vocal
and facial expressions.
Stay in our great state to see this
wonderful production. Love Letters runs through October 5.
For information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.delawaretheatre.org or call 302.594.1100.