‘Love Letters’ slated for two weekends at Masquers Theater

SOAP LAKE — The story of a man and woman who never quite know what they want from each other comes to the Masquers stage for two weekends. “Love Letters” runs for four performances. 

Director Cynthia Byer wrote that it’s not a complicated script, or a play with a lot of complicated action — just two characters seated across from each other on stage. But there’s plenty going on regardless.

“This is basically a stage reading between two people who care about each other and how they grow throughout their lives. The story is told in a very unique way but still engages audiences to enter their world,” Beyer wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. 

Melissa (Victoria Drake in the Masquers production) and Andy (Bob Jasman) meet in the second grade. They’re friends through high school and college — and sometimes they want to be more than friends, but never at the same time. Melissa is a wanderer, maybe a little crazy (maybe more than a little); Andy stays home and pursues a career. 

They go their separate ways, make new friends, have new experiences, get married to other people and keep writing to each other, on and off.  

Byer wrote that fellow Masquers veteran Cheri Barbre originally suggested “Love Letters,” and was scheduled to direct but had to drop out due to illness. 

“Cheri had wanted to do this play for some time,” Byer wrote. 

A minimalist play doesn’t really require a lot of work from the director, she wrote.

“I made a small set for the readers and mainly advised on how to do the reading,” Byer wrote. 

“Love Letters” is the next to last play of the 2023-24 Masquers season. The finale is “The Odd Couple,” scheduled to open June 7.

'Love Letters' showtimes

7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27
2 p.m. April 21 and 28
Masquers Theater
322 E. Main St., Soap Lake
509-246-2611
www.masquers.com
Tickets:
$16 adults
$12 students/seniors 

    Andy (Bob Jasman), left, and Melissa (Victoria Drake) never quite manage to make it work in the Masquers production of “Love Letters” opening Friday.
  

    Melissa (Victoria Drake) contemplates her life through the medium of letters to and from an old friend.