LOVE LETTERS

By A.R. Gurney

Directed by Ted Weiant

Presentation on July 30, July 31, August 1, August 3, 1991, The Canon Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA

Cast (in order or appearance)

Andrew Makepeace Ladd III……….RON PERLMAN
Melissa Gardner………………...LINDA HAMILTON

Synopsis (Author unknown)

The whole play takes place on just one set, which contains a large desk and two seats, one for each actor. Ron will be on the left and Linda will be on the right side. The lighting will be quite dim but you are able to see the expressions on their faces.

The play is based upon the communications (love letters) of Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner over the last 50 or so years. Writing is a kind of salvation for Andy who finds it a lot easier to write what he feels than to actually say what he feels. He says this to Melissa at the end of Act One. Writing to him, also, is the only way to escape from the restrictive prison of the self, and the only way to extend himself towards the woman he loves.

Melissa, however, senses the problems inherent in writing. She knows that words can be deceitful as well as sincere, and that letters can be a way of avoiding human contact. She struggles most of her life against Andy's attempts to induce her to play the game by his rules, and does what she can to respond on her own terms, by using drawings, comic strip slang, the telephone - anything to assert herself against the seductions of Andy's pen.

Writing may be what keeps the two lovers together, but it is also what keeps them apart. In the end, Melissa is destroyed by a relationship which in a sense has become too dependent on the written. Andy, on the other hand, continues, even after Melissa's death to find relief and comfort in writing, and can at least imagine her love and forgiveness through the process of writing to her mother at the end.

"LOVE LETTERS" from the Beauty to the Beast (Source unknown)

Rivalries between stars are very common, but once in a while a great friendship emerges from a professional relationship.

Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman for instance, who both became famous playing Catherine and Vincent in the cult series Beauty and the Beast. 'Linda, who just finished Terminator 2 left her companion and the series to have her first child, son Dalton.

Two years later, the two friends found each other again on stage in L.A., starring in the play "Love Letters." This picture is taken after a performance at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills.

"I couldn't imagine getting Love Letters from another man" Linda stated jokingly. " It's thanks to him I became famous".