"Love Letters" at The Palace Theater in Hamilton
Arts at the Palace in Hamilton, NY has announced a special Valentine’s event featuring A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist, “Love Letters.” The play unfolds a half-century of notes, letters and cards exchanged between two characters played by local actors Laurie Marshall and Ted Lenio.
Gurney’s play chronologically covers ‘Melissa’ and ‘Andrew’s’ correspondence from early school days to maturity, as they discuss their dreams and disappointments, hopes and ambitions, victories and defeats. For over 35 years it has been performed by hundreds of famous actors too numerous to mention, who bring eclectic interpretations of contrasting characters who share what it means to be in a relationship or friendship, have a confidant, and/or be “in love.”
Lenio is a NYS and regional award-winning playwright, director and actor whose theatrical arc spans 45 years, beginning in Aspen, Colorado, as ‘Charlie Chan.’ He has especially enjoyed exploring more troubled characters as they come to better understand themselves and others.
“Ever since stage managing ‘Love Letters’ for the U.S. Embassy cultural attache and his wife in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the 1990s, I’ve wanted to reprise this play,” Lenio commented. “And ever since performing with Laurie in ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Rome Art and Community Center too many years ago, I’ve wanted to team up with her again,” he added.
Marshall’s theatrical background is similarly varied and also includes such distinctive characterizations as ‘Harpo Marx’ in “A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine.” She has worked in props, costuming, stage managing, and made her directorial debut with “Hound of the Baskervilles.”
Complementing the play will be musical selections performed by pianist Jo Ann Geller and saxophonist Pete Ruben, both before the show and during intermission, which specifically relate to the characters’ lives.
The one-night-only performance is set for Friday, February 16, 7:30 pm (music at 7:00) at the Palace Theater, 19 Utica Street in Hamilton, NY.
Tickets are $10 and available at www.artsatthepalace.org. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for $4.
For questions or further information contact:
Ted Lenio / TeLeTalk50@aol.com / 315.335.0090