Love Letters

Local beloved celebrities, Nancy Nelson and Don Shelby, have been invited to pair up in a poignant theatre collaboration to present A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated work, which ran successfully on Broadway and throughout the country in a timeless piece directed by Chanhassen Resident Artistic Director, Michael Brindisi.  There are ONLY eight performances to enjoy in Chanhassen’s intimate Playhouse Theatre, so seating is limited.

Don and Nancy will play Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born to wealth and position, 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—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale law school, and Melissa flunks out of a series of “good schools.” 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.  Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children.  Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them.  However Andy’s last letter, written to her mother after Melissa’s untimely death, 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.