Review: ‘Love Letters’ does a lot with little

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Don’t go into “Love Letters” at Alhambra expecting to be dazzled with spectacular set displays, fancy costume changes and big dance numbers, but do expect to laugh … and to cry.

“Love Letters” playing at Alhambra Theatre & Dining through Feb. 9, tells the story of a man and woman’s 50-year friendship through a series of letters.

The letters are irreverent, sometimes deep, sometimes simple, often funny and usually poignant. What makes Alhambra’s production even more interesting is the cast itself. Tod Booth, Alhambra’s creative director, and his real-life wife, actress Lisa Valdini-Booth, play the only characters in the show. As the only actors in the play, one with no set or costume changes, they are solely responsible for carrying the performance. Also, of note, their daughter Jessie Booth, directed them in the play.

In “Love Letters,” Andy and Melissa are childhood friends, who keep in touch regularly through letter writing, something Andy loves, and Melissa, not so much. Their childhood innocence is exposed in the earlier letters, along with the many facets of their lives. Andy comes from a close-knit family, who spend the holidays laughing and sharing. Melissa comes from money, but deals with an absentee mother, who would rather find a husband than spend time with her. It’s rather amazing what you can glean from someone’s life through these letters, which aren’t particularly long, but frequent, and very telling.

With the minimal set and little actual interaction between the characters, the Booths do a great job of setting the scene through just their tone of voice and facial expressions, and the dialogue doesn’t get stale. With so little going on, the content of the letters and the delivery by the actors is crucial, and the Booths are able to convey the emotions of the letters beautifully.

So, while the play may not be a visual spectacle, Alhambra’s “Love Letters” certainly delivers.