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Sidekick brings Love Letters to Tsawwassen Arts Centre

The Sidekick Players Club opens a three-week run of Love Letters by A.R. Gurney at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre next week.
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Jeff Pannell and Marcia Strang star in the Sidekick Players Club’s production of Love Letters.

The Sidekick Players Club opens a three-week run of Love Letters by A.R. Gurney at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre next week.

The Fighting Days by Wendy Lill was originally scheduled for this time, but due to production constraints, Sidekick has had to postpone this play until next season.

Love Letters, directed by Carroll Lefebvre and starring Marcia Strang and Jeff Pannell, is the story of Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born to wealth and position. They are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards.

Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years. While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate.

Her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should and becomes estranged from her children. Andy’s last letter makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave, to each other over the years — physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.  

Love Lettersis a different theatre experience and has been produced all over the world, including Broadway and London.

It opened with Kathleen Turner and John Rubinstein in 1989 and has been produced with many celebrities over the years, including Larry Hagman, Charlton Heston, Carol Burnett, Brian Dennehy, Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Elizabeth Taylor, James Earl Jones and many others.

Strang has graced the Sidekick stage several times, including I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, The Melville Boys, Waiting for the Parade, The Laramie Project, Les Belles Soeurs and as the delightful Anita in Jenny’s House of Joy.

Pannell has also appeared in Faith County, An Evening of Culture, The Laramie Project, Maggie’s Getting Married, On Golden Pond, The Secret Mask, Mending Fences and as the sinister Roat in Wait Until Dark.  

Love Lettersruns from Jan. 18 to Feb. 3. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees on Sundays, Jan. 21 and 28, at 2 p.m. To reserve your seat call 604-288-2415.