Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.—RUTLAND—Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre celebrates Valentine’s Day weekend with the production of “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney on Feb. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 16. at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 117 West St. in Rutland.
The two-actor play will be presented by three different couples, with each performing one show. On Feb.14, the show will feature Sam Baker and Sandra Gartner, Feb. 15 will be Andrew Hamling and Julie Redington and on Feb. 16 Susan Gladding Heitzman and Thomas Hartigan.
Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner are both born to wealth and position. They write to each other through invitations, thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through boarding school and college years. While Andy goes off to war, Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Melissa dabbles in art, enters into destructive relationships, drinks and becomes estranged from her children.
“Love Letters” is directed by Gary Meitrott, who has directed two previous shows for ART, “Steel Magnolias” and “Alabama Story.” The play is designed to be read aloud by two actors, who sit side by side at separate tables throughout the production.
They read letters to each other over a lifelong correspondence, beginning with a birthday party invitation in elementary school and ending when they are adults who have followed different paths. Although they weren’t together very often physically throughout the years, they meant everything to each other and “were spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.”
Tickets are $22 (including $2 handling fee) per person. Advanced tickets can be purchased at: 802Tix.com, actorsreptvt.org or at the door. ART is offering a BOGO with a receipt from any downtown restaurant, buy one full price ticket and get the second one for half price. Visit the company on Facebook at facebook.com/actorsrepvt.
