Beautifully written play features talented duo
In today’s world of emails and text messages, “Love Letters” showcases the dying art of letter writing in a nostalgia-inducing romance.
Greenwood Little Theatre’s production of the A.R. Gurney play is directed by Cham Trotter, who also will star in the show tonight.
The play’s Thursday evening debut featured husband and wife Ted and Freda MacIntosh, both veteran Little Theatre performers.
With the red curtain closed, the duo sat at a desk at the edge of the stage and flawlessly read the letters of two childhood friends. Ted played Andy Ladd, while Freda played Melissa Gardner.
The reading flowed effortlessly between the two.
The play featured many humorous parts, which the audience received with laughs and chuckles, and also some serious moments.
Melissa has an exuberant personality, and Andy is a bit more subdued.
From a birthday party invitation when the two were only children, the pair continue writing letters to each other for decades. The audience hears how their relationship grows — through good times and bad.
While Melissa writes about how she would rather talk on the phone than write a letter, Andy enjoys writing and insists the two keep up their correspondence.
The letters become their main way of communicating to each other and a safe place to share their dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats.
Although the staging is simple, the well-written and well-delivered show floods the audience with waves of emotion — from happy to nostalgia to a bit of sadness.
Ted and Freda gave a wonderful performance that warmed the heart and even inspired some of the audience to pick up a pen and piece of paper and sit down and write a note to someone.
In keeping with its Broadway roots, each night of “Love Letters” will feature a different duo of Little Theatre veterans.
Tonight stars Trotter and Connie Black; Saturday stars David Dallas and Jamie Jacks; and the Sunday matinee stars husband and wife John and Cheryl Weiss.
The show is part of the season’s pass for Greenwood Little Theatre members. Tickets for non-members cost $10 for students (age 21 and younger) and $15 for adults.
Visit greenwoodlittletheatre.com or call or text (662) 947-1075 to reserve seats.