The South Arkansas Arts Center’s production of “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney will hit the stage on Dec. 18. The show will be held on Dec. 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. at SAAC. Tickets are $10, and attendance is limited to 50 seats per showing to accommodate social distancing.
“Love Letters” was a finalist for the Drama Pulitzer Prize. The play revolves around two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, as they share letters with each other spanning over 50 years, divulging some of their most inner and personal thoughts. Thoughts and feelings that also reveal a romantic love between the two characters are shared as well.
The play demonstrates not only the love shared in a long-term relationship, but also the challenges so many community theater companies are facing right now given COVID-19 restrictions. Even with a small production team and cast, there are still some challenges that the actors face.
“You’re sitting behind a desk the entire time, reading,” Abby Cate, who plays Melissa in the show, said. “The challenge becomes can you bring this character to life basically using just your head and shoulders and expression. Do I know this character well enough to adequately provide a glimpse into this character’s life with limited range of motion.”
Abby Cate will be joined onstage by Greg Oden, who stars as Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. The production is being directed by Marsha Antoon and Mary Egerer. Cate has worked with both Antoon and Oden on a few occasions, which has led to a great working relationship and rapport, according to Cate. Cate and Oden starred as husband and wife in a 2010 production of “Hairspray” with an interesting twist.
“We played husband and wife before except I was the husband and he was the wife,” Cate said. “There is something about a gender swap role that makes you appreciate the relationship you have with your co-star. He (Oden) has such a great sense of humour and he is such a nice man and joy to work with.”
Having this existing rapport will come in handy for the two as they bring these nuanced and complicated characters to life. In preparation for this performance, Cate has immersed herself into the character of Melissa and can even see some parallels between her own life and that of her character’s.
“Melissa struggles with her role. For the time period that it was written and even today, a lot of women struggle with their role,” Cate said. “There are still some stereotypes and gender roles about what it means to be a good wife and a good mother. Melissa struggles with her identity and I can identify with that, I think all women can identify with that because that is a journey so many of us take.”
Besides being able to relate to each individual character, Cate, a professional therapist, also thinks there is a lesson for couples and romantic partners, especially since so many romantic partners are in such close proximity and may be experiencing some couples’ fatigue due to the pandemic.
“What people may need to do is look at their partner as a whole person. Focus on what you know but also try and focus on the things you’re unfamiliar with,” Cate explained. “Try to connect in different ways, get out of your routines and do something different. Talk to each other. In the love letters, Melissa and Andy say things to each other that they probably wouldn’t say to another living person. Something really meaningful happens when you allow someone else to see your vulnerabilities; that allows for true engagement and bonding to another human being.”
There is a lesson to be learned for everyone and Cate said she hopes those that do decide to see the show will come with an open heart and an open mind.
“The name of the show is “Love Letters,” but that doesn’t give you the whole story. It should probably be more accurately titled Life Letters, because you see the lives of two individuals that aren’t strikingly different from most of us,” Cate said. “There’s also comedy and some very relevant and current things that are discussed in the show.”
Tickets for “Love Letters” are available at saac-arts.org. Face masks are required for attendees and hand sanitizer will be available throughout SAAC. After each show there will be a few minutes of questions and answers with the actors and production team and attendees are encouraged to participate.