Review: Superlative Reading of Adams' Love Letters at THEATRE 40 with RICHARD BENJAMIN and PAULA PRENTISS

Only one more night tonight Monday February 15 to catch celebrated stars of stage, screen and television Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss in Dearest Friend, a reading of the actual love letters of second U.S. President John Adams and his First Lady, Abigail Adams. These powerful and moving letters, written as our nation was being formed, by one of America's founders and his wife are extraordinary, moving and deeply insightful into their love for each other and for our great country.

The Adams' love letters have been compiled and edited with accompanying narration by Marion Zola.

Dearest Friend will be performed tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills. This is on the campus of Beverly Hills High School. There is ample free parking beneath the venue.

Salome Jens, well-known to Theatre 40 audiences and also known nationally for her work on stage and screen, directs Mr. Benjamin and Ms. Prentiss.

Tickets are a tax-deductible donation of $65.00, and can be reserved by phone at (310) 364-3606. Call for remaining seats, if available, or cancellations.

It was great to see Mr. Benjamin and Ms. Prentiss onstage last night. They were in quite remarkable form reading the love letters of John and Abigail Adams in a riveting 90-minute program, which benefits Theatre 40. Benjamin has a relaxed, totally natural delivery which he uses to great advantage to convey the excessive frustrations of Adams as he waited for two years, away from his beloved wife, from 1974-76, for a stubborn Congress to pass the Declaration of Independence. Prentiss was a bit nervous to start, but once engaged, she was every bit as wonderful to watch and listen to as she once was. That unmistakable voice exuding intelligence and fiery attitude came quickly to life, as she extolled Abigail Adams' longing for her husband, but strength and determination to carry on admirably on the homefront with her duties as farmer, wife and mother.

It is interesting to note that Benjamin and Prentiss have been married 54 years, the same number of years that John and Abigail Adams were married.

The letters chosen by Miss Zola are full of the dedicated love and loyalty that kept the couple together until Abigail's death. Also of interest is that John Adams died on July 4, 1826, exactly fifty years to the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Don't miss an opportunity to see Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss directed by the brilliant Salome Jens at Theatre 40. Call for possible cancellations for tonight's show at (310) 364-3606. It is an enriching evening of theatre that will enlighten you and simultaneously assist Theatre 40 in bringing you their superb theatrical programs all year long.

(picture at top by Don Grigware/from left to right: producer David Hunt Stafford, director Salome Jens, Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss and compiler/writer Marion Zola)

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