Love Letters by Gurney
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3751
Printed Date: 5/19/24 at 1:41pm
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Topic: Love Letters by Gurney
Posted By: n2drama
Subject: Love Letters by Gurney
Date Posted: 1/18/09 at 6:48am
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Hi All, We are planning to do Gurney's "Love Letters" soon and I am looking for ideas on how to convey the idea to the audience of the passage of time and to help keep it from being too monotonous. I've considered using backdrops of the seasons, progressing from spring to summer, etc. I've also considered use of wardrobe. Any lighting ideas? What have some of you done with this show? TIA, N2D |
Replies:
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 1/19/09 at 8:08pm
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You don't need to do anything beyond casting two talented actors. The script and the acting takes care of it all. IMO, scene changes would be distracting - and there is not time for costume changes. You lose part of the charm of the play by trying to turn it into something it's not. It's a reading - it's not not meant to be a fully staged play. Actors should be able to convey the passage of time by their voices and posture. |
Posted By: stockhamlj
Date Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:02pm
I have seen this play done on a bare stage with skrims, the two players seated at opposite desks. It wasn't boring at all. In fact, the play moved very quickly. You might think of doing a back-to-back production of another play in the same genre with LOVE LETTERS and that is Robert Yowell's wonderful MONTANA LOVE STORY: CHARLIE AND NANCY RUSSELL. For a copy, you can contact Dr. Yowell through the Department of Theatre at Northern Arizona University, at <robert.yowell@nau.edu> or go through the university's directory for his office telephone number.  ------------- Linda Stockham |
Posted By: bernster74
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 6:47pm
| We did this show with one table, a nice table cloth, two vases of roses, and that's it. The actor's added glasses (the man) and a artistic shawl (the woman) for Act II and that was it. Audeinces loved the simplicity of the production and the actor's carried the night. It was great. |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 1/24/09 at 3:03pm
| Everyone is right, you need a minimum of production, good actors can carry this show and it works very well. |
Posted By: n2drama
Date Posted: 1/28/09 at 7:05am
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Thanks, everyone, for the input. N2D |