‘Love Letters’ pens visit to Little Panida

When emailing and texting has become today’s norm, the play “Love Letters” takes audiences back to the days of pen and paper.

The historic Panida starts off its busy 2020 theater season with a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama. For the Winter Carnival this year the Panida Playhouse Players will present “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney. This well-known play centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III who coorespond for over 50 years.

“Love Letters” stars two seasoned actors very familiar with the stage. Amy Sherman, who plays Melissa, has been busy the past few years with roles in the Panida Theater’s performance of “Drinking Habits”, Hearthside Stories One Acts’ “Thanksgiving Next” and “Thanks A Lot.” She has spent a number years working in the film industry, modeling and recently directing in charity fashion show.

“The author creates a world where the the character’s stories are not tied up with a pretty little bow but rather, as often in life are left without closure,” said Sherman.

The male lead character will be played by Robert Moore. “In this play I think the audience can connect to the characters from aspects within their own lives.”

Moore has been in many productions in the Sandpoint area since the late 1990s, including “Waiting for Godot”, “The Bad Seed”, “Christmas Carol”, “Drinking Habits” and “Thanksgiving Next”.

“This play is unlike any other I’ve been in in that it creates characters who grow before the audience’s eyes through just the written word,” said Moore.

Unlike most live performances where the actor developes so much of a characterby deliberate movement on stage with fellow actors, this performance uses the vocal talents of their actors. “Love Letters” is directed by Patricia Walker who has been consistently committed in bringing live theater plays to the Panida.

“Live theater in still an incredibly powerful medium and touches audiences in a unique way. Although we rarely receive handwritten correspondence anymore we can still cherish its impact,” said Walker.

The Panida invites adults to spend an evening in this tender, tragi-comic, and nuanced examination of the shared nostalgia, missed opportunities, and deep closeness of two lifelong, complicated friends as they read letters back and forth from each other over a span of 50 years in a very intimate setting. Dessert will be served at intermission and the theater has partnered with Sharon’s Hallmark for a unique Valentine writing touch. Whether bringing friends or a valentine you will be treated with a touch of heart for this intimate performance.

Dessert Theater Onstage at the Little Panida will take place Feb. 13-15, with performance starting at 7 p.m. each night. Door open at 6:30 p.m. A matinee performance will be held at 3 p.m. on Feb. 16, with doors opening at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 each and includes a wonderful dessert served at intermission.

Tickets are on sale at panida.org, Eve’s Leaves, Evans Brothers Coffee, or at the door.