Randy Magner and Lauren Allen in Love Letters
Photo by Glenn Corcorran of Cole Street Studio


Star Brite Productions and Trinity House Theatre join together for a production of A.R. Gurney's play Love Letters.

Gurney’s play and the spare staging of two actors reading the letters they’ve exchanged throughout their lives seems deceptively simple, but the complex feelings expressed pack an emotional punch that theatergoers will not soon forget.

StarBrite artistic director Randy Magner of Royal Oak chose to further vary the pace and emotion of the play by having a rotating cast of actors play the roles of Melissa and Andy during the course of the play’s run.

  “The actress opposite me is always an ‘X’ factor. Every evening is a different performance entirely,” says Robert W. Papineau of Livonia, one of the actors playing Andy.

The production will feature Papineau, Magner, Wayne A. Bibbs of Clinton Township, and J. Mike Morgan of Flat Rock taking turns in the role of Andy.  Vikki Gasko of Livonia, Vanessa Grayson of Troy, Arlene Pollock of Clawson, Sandra Menzel of St. Clair Shores, Elizabeth Moen of Harper Woods, and Lauren Allen of Royal Oak perform in the role of Melissa

“To age from a child to senior citizen while on stage and without the ability to move about the stage is something I find very challenging, but also very frightening,” says Morgan.

“In an age of email and text messaging, it is amazing to be given the opportunity to relate the power of the written word and the intimacy of correspondence in a beautiful “opposites attract” love story,” says Menzel, another StarBrite newcomer.

Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 9 - 18.  Friday and Saturday shows are at 8:00pm and Sunday is at 3:00pm.  Tickets are $15, $12 for subscribers and Ford Employees.  Reservations can be made by calling 734-464-6302 or e-mailing tickets@trinityhouse.org.