Theatrical Review: Love Letters

LOVE LETTERS
Written by: A. R. Gurney
Directed by: Jerry Durkin
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presented The Worthington Players production of “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney. For those who celebrate the St. Valentine’s Season, the play “Love Letters” can be expected to be found among the flowers, chocolates, and the aim of Cupid’s arrow. Many theatrical companies present “Love Letters” as their annual contribution to the season as an entertainingly unique tribute to it.

The structure of the play has a potentially boring premise to it. It consists of two people sitting in front of an audience reading from a script comprising of letters their character have written to each other. Fortunately, this potential for boredom is never realized as the audience becomes involved with the characters and their lives they share even when they’re apart. “Love Letters” offers an opportunity to explore the range of emotions the actors present to us not only in the parts they play, but also in our own relationships with those whom we hold dear to our hearts.

This production utilizes the talents of a different set of actors in each of its performance. The evening which I attended featured Scotty McIntosh as Andrew Ladd and Pittershawn Palmer* as Melissa Gardner. Other actors portraying the part of Andrew Ladd during the course of the production are Jerry Durkin (who also served as Director), Steve Brown, Michael Wetmore*, Marty Courtney*, Rob Howell, and Jon Kirkwood. Other actresses portraying the part of Melissa Gardner during the course of the production are Betsy Jackson*, Nance Brown, Michelle Kane, Teri Miles, Pat VanVarick, and Barbara Calchera.

While it’s difficult to determine the quality of the yet unseen productions featuring other cast members, the performance of Scotty McIntosh and Pittershawn Palmer* in their roles may serve as an indication of the overall production. Their performance drew the audience into the lives of their character, not only with the lines they spoke and the reflections they placed on then, but with the reflections each actor gave to the letters they received which the other actor was reading them aloud.

This silent act of reading and reacting to what was read added a dimension to the production by allowing the audience to see what effect the letters really had on their readers. Yet, it not only served to deepen our relationship with the characters, but it also deepen our relationships with our hearts as they began to respond to what they heard. Therefore, the actors held a mirror to our often unseen souls as we reflected on what we discovered there.

“Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney was Directed by Jerry Durkin and Sara Ferguson served as Assistant Director. The Production was Stage Managed by Teresa Yue Shen while the lighting design was created by Kayla Goble. Lillian Ramirez Gonzalez*, Mary Horn, and Kasey Mesko served as a members of the box office staff. The Executive Director of The Shawnee Playhouse* is Midge McClosky* while the producers are Ginny and Charlie Kirkwood.

This production of “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney will continue its run at The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA until February 17th and is recommended for those who would like to follow Shakespeare’s suggestion of “Go to Thy Bosom, knock there, and ask your heart what it dost know.” The next Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presentation will be The Worthington Players production of “Prelude To A Kiss” will be March 7th - 16th. Those who enjoy the Passionate Art Lover level of membership in The Forwardian Arts Society are offered a $2.00 discount off the admission fee. Please contact The Shawnee Playhouse* at 570-421-5093 for more information and to reserve your ticket.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Please Note: There were no photography allowed during the production.