Five different couples, one amazing story

This is the question posed in Love Letters , the play by A. R. Gurney which is the latest production by The Guild Theatre, Rockdale.

The play centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Side by side the characters read letters and take the audience on a journey which spans almost 50 years.

Though separated through most of this time, in these letters they share their hopes, dreams, disappointments and successes. Theirs is a unique and complicated relationship that is often hard to define, but one that defines their lives.

The director, Lyn Lee, has chosen to cast five different couples to play the roles of Melissa and Andrew. She feels this will bring diversity to the play, as each couple will have a different perspective in respect to their character. Audiences, will then have the opportunity to see the play more than once and experience the different interpretations, which each couple will bring to the roles as the characters come to life.

The couples are:

Dawn and David Pointon. UK born Dawn met David in France in 1992, while holidaying with her then fiancé. They instantly fell in love. Dawn ended her engagement immediately. David proposed and they were engaged three months later then married seven months later. While they have performed in many productions over the years, they are very excited about Love Letters as it is the first time that they will be sharing a stage.

Glenda and Greg Kenyon met at the Bankstown Town Hall theatre after a production of Annie Get Your Gun in 1975. They now have four children and nine grandchildren who share their passion for theatre. Greg and Glenda will be celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary during the run of Love Letters.

Maria Micallef and Brett Van Heekeren are the only non-married couple but the connection was instantaneous. On stage they have developed a chemistry that has grown, as they dissect the play and their characters.

Christianne and Scott Brawley - Christianne and Scott met in 1991, when they were both cast in a production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Christianne was cast as Nurse Ratched and Scott as an orderly in the mental home. Both have been involved in community theatre, acting, directing and writing for over 30 years. They have acted together many times, but are especially excited to share the stage again in Love Letters as they will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary during the production's run.

Nathan Farrow and Jodi Burns-Farrow met during The Guild's production of The Woman In Black. Nathan proposed to Jodi from the stage of The Guild Theatre in front of an audience of family and friends and they were married the following year in Venice.

Love Letters runs from November 3 November to- December 2 and there will be Wednesday matinee performances rather than Wednesday evening performances.

Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1116302