Love Letters a nostalgic gem
The art of letter writing has no romance in modern society full of internet slang, acronyms and abbreviations, and it’s with a graceful sadness that I admit my one-time passion for expressing myself in long form has also dissipated into quick texts or emails.
Throughout history, the most beautiful thoughts and prose of a collected point of view were written by hand, on paper and ink. Iconic letters of love like those of Abigail and John Adams or Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash are thought-provoking gems of intelligent minds. When I read Martin Luther King Jr’s letter from Birmingham Jail, where he opines that “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds,” or Gandhi’s note to Hitler suggesting peace, I felt something in their chosen words.
I attended opening night of Love Letters at the Kelowna Actors Studio last week and it aroused a feeling of nostalgia in me that I had let slip away.
Two actors sitting on a stage reading letters to each other
How can that be a play? How can that hold my interest for 90 minutes? Well, it did.
First, was the oversized, handwritten letter as the back drop to a set decorated with two distinct areas on the stage.
One side is very feminine, with a rose pink chaise lounge, satin pillows and a cashmere throw. The other side has a distinctly masculine banker’s desk and chair.
I felt the story unfolding even before showtime. The letters are read through Andrew Makepeace Ladd III (portrayed by Randy Leslie) and Melissa Gardner (Ruby BullockSpitz), both born to wealth and position.
They are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards.
Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through boarding school, college and beyond middle age.
Bullock-Spitz is capably cast — her voice is light-hearted, jovial and soft while she flirts with the words she reads and draws you into an emotion that is like her cashmere blanket even though some of her truths are the opposite.
Leslie, on the other hand, stays stoic.
Even when he feels vulnerable, he remains reeled in and formal like the voice of reason as we follow him through entering the war, marriage, law school, then from politics elected to the U.S. Senate.
Kudos to director Margaret Gobie, who blocked the actors ever so subtly but packed a punch, using body language to fill in the story through lounging, kneeling, poised on the edge of a seat. For Leslie, it was standing at the corner of the desk or sitting relaxed in a chair smiling. The actions gave each letter a purpose.
Add to that lighting director Jordan Davies’s choices of using blue light when there were obvious pauses in correspondence or a soft hue in the glory days — all these intelligent choices made those 90 minutes fly by.
Leslie’s character says when he writes and sends a letter, it comes straight from him.
“Giving myself to you across a distance not keeping or retaining any part of it for myself, giving this piece of myself to you totally, and you can tear me up and throw me out, or keep me, and read me today.”
That is the beauty of receiving letters which reminds me that I have a shoe box of personal notes and letters that I have kept over the years to read aloud one day and keep them safe like precious trinkets from my past.
Love letters runs July 11-21 at Kelowna Actors Studio, 1379 Ellis St.
Dinner service begins at 6 p.m. and show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are through kelownatickets.com.
——— On Saturday at Waterfront Park is the second annual Rockin the Beach, a rock tribute extravaganza that will raise money for Kelowna Community Resources Society.
There is so much talent on the stage that night. Tribute musicians include a set by Mike Brown as I’m on Fire (Bruce Springsteen) and a closing set by Breakdown: Tom Petty Tribute (Dave Mihal, Martyn Jones, Gary Smyth, Cam Ward, James Elser). But what makes it unique is that during the concert there are six individual musicians each performing four songs of their favorite rock artist. You get to see eight unique musical performances all with live music backing all in one concert. This is a 19 years or older event. Musicians included on the bill are: Niki Martinus (Sarah McLachlan/The Cranberries), Vicky Nish (Pat Benatar), Peter Glockner (The Doors), Kevin Foley (Neil Young), Cristy MacDonald (Heart), and James Elser (Billy Joel).
Kelowna Cabs will discount cab fare by 10 per cent with your hand stamp. Also, a shuttle ride to West Kelowna will be provided for $10. Call 250-762-2222. Gates open at 5 p.m. The music starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 ($40 at the gate) See experientialtourism.ca/rockkelowna.
——— If you are in Vernon on Saturday night, you must see the talented Smith Fraser Duo and be part of their live recording concert that will take place at Record City, 3127 30th Ave.
Fraser and Smith have a pedigree of musicianship that humbles most of us and have been collaborating, performing and touring for three years — so its time they gave their fans something to take home and treasure.
Neil, a life-long “jazz man,” and Andrew, steeped in singer/songwriter folk styles, have knit an intelligent craftsmanship of colour and play.
Tickets are $20 and available at Record City and The Bean Scene in Vernon, and at Wentworth Music in Kelowna. Doors open at 7 p.m. Wouldn’t that be great to be part of the applause on a recording that one day will be an iconic piece of Okanagan memorabilia? Andrewsmithmusic.com has details.
——— As a singer who acts, I am always looking to find acting classes in the city to hone my skills, so I’m sad to be missing out on this.
Fred Skeleton Theatre Company has created a summer school of classes, taught by experienced directors and teachers Shannon and Rob Mason-Brown.
These are on Monday evenings for beginners and go for six weeks. Anyone who needs to improve self-confidence, public speaking or even just a way of getting out – I recommend these. It’ll be $250 well spent. Also on Wednesday nights — beginning tonight — there is a scene study class to sharpen your acting tools.
Dig deep into a script, create more rounded and interesting characters, and perform truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Email freddy@fredskeleton.com. Anna Jacyszyn is a Kelowna artist. Email artafactevent@gmail.com.