Northern Michigan University Theatre & Dance will present “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, a past nominee for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play features two characters—Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III—whose 50-year correspondence chronicles their evolving relationship and shared confidences. It has been described as “a tender, tragi-comic and nuanced examination of the shared nostalgia, missed opportunities and deep closeness of two lifelong, complicated friends.” Showtimes are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26 through Saturday, June 28, in Forest Roberts Theatre.
The play stars Amy Dolan-Malaney and Robert Ouellette, both seasoned actors who performed “Love Letters” together in Florida seven years ago. Because Dolan-Malaney and her husband, Dennis—an NMU alumnus—have called Big Bay their summer home for more than 35 years, she pitched the idea of the two actors reuniting for another production in Marquette, and NMU made it part of this year's North Coast Theatre & Dance Festival.
While spanning five decades and numerous locations, the unique and imaginative piece is staged simply, as the playwright intended. Dolan-Malaney said the approach works because the play is so well-written.
“Gurney advised against wearing costumes, getting up and moving around, and even acting, really,” she said. “He wanted actors to just trust that by reading the letters and not over-rehearsing or memorizing, it will work. And sure enough, when we performed it that first time in Florida, people were very engaged and laughed in all the right places. It's both funny and heartbreaking.
“We've been reading it back and forth via Zoom to reacquaint ourselves with all the words because you have to get them out clearly. But we're very anxious to get this in front of audiences again. It's hard to really listen in this very loud world we're in right now, but I know that those who come to the show and listen to the words these characters share through their letters will have a really good experience.”
The characters 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 the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of “good schools.”
While Andy is off at 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, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them. However, Andy's last letter, written to her mother after Melissa's untimely death, makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years—physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.
“At one point, around college age, they get very intimate in their letter writing,” Dolan-Malaney said. “And then they actually meet and it's an unsuccessful meeting because they keep looking for the person from the letters. When you write, it's easier to express your feelings and emotions openly. So the problem, as they discussed later, was that they kept looking for the person they had been writing to and the one they met in person didn't live up to that, so the meeting crashed.”
Marquette audiences may recognize Dolan-Malaney from performances of “I Do, I Do,” “Little Women,” and her one-woman show “I'm Becoming My Mother” at Lake Superior Theatre. Other credits include the first national and Broadway cast recording of “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?” She has also worked at Flint Repertory Theatre and others across the country. Her opera credits include a 21-year affiliation with the Michigan Opera Theatre at the Detroit Opera House.
Ouellette launched his career in Vancouver and has since performed in theaters across Canada. Among his most cherished roles are George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," Gary in "Present Laughter," and King Henry in "The Lion in Winter." A season at the renowned Stratford Festival included the unforgettable opportunity to appear in "King Lear" alongside Peter Ustinov.
Tickets are $25 for the general public, $22 for NMU employees, seniors and military, $15 for youth and $5 for NMU students. They are available at nmu.edu/tickets.