Fans of local theater can enjoy a kind of love letter to the art of letter writing this Valentines’ Day weekend.
Olympic Theatre Arts brings to the stage A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” for four performances, a reader’s theater-style presentation by two two-person casts, set for Feb. 10-12 and Feb. 14, at the OTA stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
“The strength in this style of performance would be a concentration on the author’s words and intent, which are unaffected by lots of movement,” said Angela Poynter, one of the actors.
“Love Letters” was a finalist for the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama that tells the story of two characters sharing their deepest thoughts from childhood to old age.
“At its heart, the play is what you would expect it to be,” said Ron Graham, who plays one of the characters. “A love story about two life-long friends told through the letters they wrote to each other, recounting their experiences together or explaining how their lives unfurled during the times they were apart. The play is told completely through the reading of the letters, but there is some indirect interaction.”
Bringing the letters to life are Sara Nicholls and Steve Rodeman at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, while real-life husband and wife duo Graham and Poynter take the stage at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.
Tickets are $35 and include show, dessert and a glass of champagne. Get tickets at olympictheatrearts.org or call 360-683-7326 (1-4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday).
“They know each other their whole lives and they go through all of the stages of life together,” Rodeman said of the production.
“It’s like any relationship; it’ll wax and wane.
“The worst times we have are when we lose that connection.”
“These two people have an enduring love for each other,” said Poynter, “but have very different approaches to life, for better or worse.”
“Love Letters” is a bit of a reunion for Nicholls and Rodeman, who co-starred in OTA’s 2019 hit production “Bakersfield Mist.”
Rodeman said his role is somewhat vanilla: “I’m kind of the normal part of relationship. I have a career, a family. You contrast with [her] free spirit.”
Nicholls said it is her first reader’s theater performance as did Poynter. Graham has done it many times and for Rodeman it’s been about 40 years since his last time.
Rodeman said he enjoys the sparseness of the production: there aren’t any distractions like a set or music, and instead the story simply focuses on two people’s lives.
“Reader’s theater is easier in some ways because you don’t need to memorize lines or deal with movement, costume changes or props as much,” said Graham. “But you also need to remember not to block yourself too much with the script, as people still need to see the emotion play on your face as you read. In other words, you still need to perform as the character, not just read the words.”
While Nicholls and Rodeman will be reading the same lines as Graham and Poynter — who recently starred in Ghostlight’s production of “White Christmas” — the performances will wind up being different.
“It’s the way you interpret [the lines],” Nicholls said.
“It’s like doing versions of the same song,” Rodeman said. “We wouldn’t want it to be the same.”
“Good writing is always open for interpretation; no two people will ever see things quite the same way,” said Poynter.
Love Letters will be directed by Kyle LeMaire, executive director of The Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts.
According to LeMaire, “The greatness of this show is how the words are guided and delivered through the performers.”
‘Love Letters’
By A.R. Gurney
Times: 7 p.m. Feb. 10-11, Feb. 14; 2 p.m. on Feb. 12
Location: Olympic Theatre Arts stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
Tickets: $35; includes show, dessert, champagne
Buy tickets/more info: olympictheatrearts.org, 360-683-7326 (1-4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday).
