BWW Reviews: Gurney's Bringing Snail Mail Back with LOVE LETTERS

In this age of emails, texting and social media updates, the premise of A.R. Gurney's charming Love Letters, may seem quaint, or perhaps a little far-fetched, to younger playgoers. But when the play premiered in 1988 it wasn't so unbelievable that the story of a lifelong relationship between two people - from grade school to old age - could be told rather completely through the handwritten correspondence sent between them throughout the decades.

By design, every production of Love Letters shares the same staging. The actors playing Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, both born of educated and cultured WASP privilege, sit center stage and, never relating to each other directly, read aloud the scribbles, notes, letters, post cards, formal invitations, obligatory holiday greetings and desperate pleas for help that served as their main form of communication.

The free-spirited Melissa, a flirtatious button-pusher, settles in New York after college and suffers through a bad marriage and addictions while trying to establish herself as an artist. After a stint in the Navy, the straight-laced Andrew gets married, has a family and becomes a United States Senator.

Though none of the deliveries between them could strictly be called a love letter, Gurney continually hints at their attraction for each other and the reasons why they remain apart despite deep and genuine affection.

Gurney does seem to cheat at times, though. Some one or two sentence communications, though they might be snippets from longer letters, come off as dialogue, or even, to the modern ear, like texting.

Aside from the clever and captivating quality of the material (It was a Pulitzer finalist.) the easy-to-produce quality of Love Letters has made it a favorite among celebrities looking for a theatre fix in between other projects and non-profits seeking entertainment for a fundraising event. Back in 2003, The Duplex hosted weekly performances of the play, featuring such pairings as Randy Graff and Lonny Price, Seth Rudetsky and Leslie Kritzer, Tonya Pinkins and Jerry Dixon and Jim Dale and Charles Busch.

Director Gregory Mosher will be keeping busy with the revolving door of stars set to partake in the new Broadway production. Scheduled to play future month-long engagements are Carol Burnet and Brian Dennehy, Candice Bergen and Alan Alda, Diana Rigg and Stacy Keach and Anjelica Huston and Martin Sheen. But the production opens with Dennehy and Mia Farrow.

In the flashier role, the soft-voiced and wistful Farrow beautifully conveys Melissa's intelligence and self-destructive nature. Dennehy's Andrew keeps his emotions in check as he pursues the traditional lifestyle that's appropriate for a high-powered politician, but the actor subtly hints at the character's discomfort with always doing what's expected of him.

Warm and touching, Love Letters serves as a handsome tribute to written words; those spoken in public and those read in private.

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