Live and in person at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. East, Toronto, Ont. Produced by zippysaid productions.
Zippysaidproductions.com
Written by A.R. Gurney
Directed by David Agro
Set by David Agro
Cast: David Agro
Deborah Shaw
A.R. Gurney’s charming 1989 play Love Letters, is exactly that—a series of love letters between Melissa Gardner and Andrew (Andy) Makepeace Ladd III. It begins in 1937, when both are children and he writes to her parents thanking them for inviting him to their daughter Melissa’s birthday party and accepting the kind invitation. It follows with Melissa writing and thanking Andy for his present, The Lost Princess of Oz. And so this correspondence begins in childhood and continues into adulthood.
It follows the ups and downs of Melissa and Andy as they navigate life, being friends, going to separate boarding schools, university, confiding, arguing, being disappointed in the other, expressing affection but not quite connecting, all through the beauty and wonder of letter writing. Andy loves letter writing on writing paper, with pen, and preferably a fountain pen. Melissa hates the hassle of it, but does it to connect to Andy.
Andy is a dutiful son, a studious student, a responsible citizen who answers the call to enlist when war comes, who follows the straight and narrow and never gets into trouble. Melissa is rambunctious, irreverent, unpredictable, troubled, care-free, artistic and a free-spirit who needs the steadiness of a good friend like Andy. Through their ups and down in their separate lives, they were connected by their hand-written letters and the affection expressed in them.
Love Letters is an odd thing because, according to playwright A.R. Gurney’s instructions, the letters are to be read from the page, not memorized, with the actors playing Melissa and Andy sitting side by side at desks. They are not to look at each other when reading the letters.
Director David Agro has created a meticulous, moving production full of thought and detail. Two strands of connected letters are suspended up like ivy at the back of the set, with an ornate wood model of a church in the middle of the strands. Melissa (Deborah Shaw) sits at a small desk that is painted in a lively design—appropriate for Melissa’s artistic nature. Andy (David Agro) sits at a polished dark wood desk with a box for pens and other writing paraphernalia on it, including a fountain pen. She wears a bright, boldly designed top and white pants. He wears a dark suit, grey shirt and dark grey tie. The clothes beautifully express the different personalities of the characters: flamboyant for Melissa and subdued and respectable for Andy.
Deborah Shaw expresses Melissa’s irreverence with glee. There is wicked fun in this performance that brings out Melissa’s lack of a filter to express her emotions. And Deborah Shaw also illuminates Melissa’s more fragile moments, when she is spiraling downward. David Agro as Andy is proper, always contained, and mindful of acceptable behaviour. While both actors are not to look at one another, they do react to what each is reading of the other’s letters. The emotions are definitely there in these two fine performances.
This production of Love Letters is funny, moving, engaging and heart-squeezing. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day and any day before and after.
Zippysaid productions presents:
Plays until Feb. 16, 2025.
Running time: 90 minutes (1 intermission)
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We saw it on Thursday and enjoyed it.