Love Letters

Tuesday night after working late Perry and I went to our local library. We often walk there with the dog, but this night was different. Brad, a member of our church and husband to Soni who went to Guatemala with us, was performing in a play at the library. It was a free performance of Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. The library provided refreshments (which was good since we hadn't had dinner yet at it was scheduled from 7:00-9:00).

The play was actually a reading of letters over the years by two friends that only eventually learn that not only are they at one time lovers but also very emotionally attached best friends. I was impressed with the amount of acting Brad and his co-star had to put into reading the love letters.

Ann Meyer took the part of Melissa the self-absorbed teenager/young adult and then artist/divorcee/depressed/alcoholic. Even without dress changes and really even leaving her seat she very much seemed the part of Melissa in all the stages of her life.

It was interesting to read about the history of the play afterwards. Famous actors and actresses have performed in it: Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Taylor, Christopher Reeves, Joan Van Ark, James Earl Jones (the voice of God), Carol Burnette, Stockard Channing, Lynn Redgrave, and Mel Gibson just to name a few (OK, the ones I've heard of). I can only picture the fundraiser done by Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones. That would have been worth it.



We have seen Brad's directed Christ in the Concrete City with Sara at our church when Sara came to visit last spring. We've also been to Little Colonel Players theater where Brad is on the board of directors, but this was the first time we had actually seen him perform. He was great as the writer-turned-Republican senator (we forgave him the Republican part since that part was in the script). It was also just fun see a play where you know the actors, especially in such a small venue.

By the end of the play several women in the audience had tears in their eyes. I would have if Perry hadn't just before the end dropped his glasses out of his pocket onto the floor and clanging against the metal folding chair. Perry was also whispering "is she dead?" "what's happening?" I guess Perry will have to take me to see it again (free being in our price range) to figure it all out.

-- Stephanie