Andrew McFarlane Forum

keksle · Administrator Messages: 1594 Location: Bodensee, Germany

I would have loved to see Love Letters, which he performed, together with Joy Smithers on the 20th of February 2009.

He has performed this play before, together with Lenore Smith in 1992.

This time it was a charity play and I was told, that it was awesome.

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keksle · Administrator Messages: 1594 Location: Bodensee, Germany

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keksle · Administrator Messages: 1594 Location: Bodensee, Germany

Love Letters

Written by lloyd bradford (brad) syke
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Love Letters is a Pulitzer-nominated play by A. R. Gurney. A two-hander centred on Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, the actors sit, diametrically-opposed, at tables (or, in this case, a table), & read the correspondence intended for, and received by, each other.

It's an elegant formula, one rooted more in the novel, than drama, but which works a sweet treat, imbued with realism, naturalism, humour, affection, warmth, romance & tragedy. Director, Zoe Carides, hasn't tampered: she's had the courage, intelligence and discernment to adopt an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach. If only more directors knew when to take a step back, rather than make an indelible stamp. By her own admission, her two 'gorgeous' actors, Andrew McFarlane & Joy Smithers, primarily needed the space to develop their characters, not too much guidance. But then, I'm sure there's a degree of modesty in the comment. Whatever, the relativity of contributions, this production worked as well, I imagine, as this play can; which is saying something.

The beauty of it, for actors, is it must be read, so there are no lines to be learnt. Indeed, if they were the naturalism would be lost. This leaves plenty of room for expression, interpretation and character development. Smithers &, especially, McFarlane have exploited this opportunity handsomely, in progressing their characters, vocally and physically, from juveniles to regretful elders. The performances were impassioned and moving, with a sublimely-judged emotional arc.

The characters, Melissa & Andy discuss veritably all there is to be discussed. Often, exposition of the trivial reveals something much deeper. Both have trouble finding the boundaries of their relationship and grappling with the lonely realities of physical distance: absence doesn't always make the hard grow fonder, but sometimes causes the mind (& body) to wander. After a lifetime of dalliance, thrusts and parries, the denouement is, suffice to say, no When Harry Meets Sally!

Carides has chosen to evoke distance with a video backdrop of, if my eyes didn't deceive, the dramatic cliffs south of Bondi. It works.

Perhaps because it can be performed with less rehearsal, Love Letters has a long, strong tradition of A-list actors starring. It was first performed, in 1988, at the Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut, featuring Joanna Gleason and John Rubinstein. The following year, with John Tillinger (not Dillinger) at the rudder, it opened, off-Broadway, at the Promenade, with the sumptuous Kathleen Turner and Rubinstein. It ran for 64 performances & was a captivating theatrical experiment, performed only on Sunday and Monday evenings and changing cast like wardrobe: weekly. William Hurt, Marsha Mason, Christopher Reeve, George Segal & Christopher Walken were but a few of the players. It then moved to Broadway, at the Edison, with the likes of Jason Robards, Lynn Redgrave, Stockard Channing, Robert Vaughn, Timothy Hutton, Elizabeth McGovern, Cliff Robertson, Nancy Marchand and the bewitching Elizabeth Montgomery. But the name-dropping doesn't end there: Carol Burnett, Brian Dennehy, 'Mad' Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek have all had the privilege, at the the Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, Colorado.

In 1999, Gurney made the dubious decision to adapt Love Letters for a telemovie, directed by Stanley Donen & starring Laura Linney, that played-out scenes and characters worthy of mere mention in the play. A little over a year ago, Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones gave a benefit, to raise $1 million for the former's AIDS foundation, started in honour of her late friend, Rock Hudson. Last year, Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels performed Love Letters at the Detroit Institute of Art's Detroit Film Theater in a benefit for the Purple Rose Theatre Company. Carides & co have perspicaciously picked-up on this latter tradition, raising money & awareness for Hope for Cambodian Children, also an AIDS charity, for kids orphaned by the disease.

If you missed Love Letters, you missed a terrific one-night-only performance. But you needn't miss the chance to lend a little hope.

www.hopeforcambodianchildren.org

Source: http://www.australianstage.com.au/reviews/sydney/love-letters-2256.html

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Angel · Expert Messages: 987

Too bad I don't live in OZ to see him play

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keksle · Administrator Messages: 1594 Location: Bodensee, Germany

I know what you mean. I feel the same!

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