GAMUT's 'Love Letters' Is a Delight

GAMUT, Roanoke's alt-theater, is running a little gem of a two-person Valentine's Day tribute called--what else?--"Love Letters," and I urge you to see it before it runs out Saturday at Community High School's charming downtown theater.

This is A.R. Gurney's Pulitzer nominated play (written as an exercise in learning how to use a computer keyboard) about two people who maintain a relationship by letter for more than 50 years, beginning as children.

It is a delightful, sometimes frustrating, often touching story brought to life tonight by director Michael Mansfield and actors Barry Bedwell and Mary Jean Redon Levin, who was thoroughly engaging as the foul-mouthed artist. Bedwell and Mary Jean have long local resumes and Mary Jean was playing so far against type that I had to love it.

On alternate nights the characters are played by solid Patrick Kennerly and Amanda Mansfield, likely Roanoke's best actor. She is married to Michael Mansfield.

This little play in its small theater with its tiny cast continues the growing tradition of powerful Roanoke theater and I strongly recommend it to you. Get your tickets here.