Love Letters

The Valley Players present A. R. Gurney’s award-winning play of romance-by-post, *Love Letters*. The show goes up February 7–15, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, at Black Birch Vineyard (108 Straits Road, Hatfield MA).

As part of the Valley Players’ mission to support the community through community theater, half of net ticket revenue from the show will be donated to River Valley Counseling Center, a nonprofit community-based mental health agency serving the Valley for over 70 years.

Simple by design but moving in effect, *Love Letters* takes the form of two characters sharing the letters they have written each other from second grade through their golden years, relating their struggles and triumphs, dreams and fears, and setbacks and second chances. Over the course of the evening, the often complicated, deeply touching, always messy story of their evolving love unfolds against the backdrop of the tumultuous events of the mid- to late- twentieth century.

The Valley Players production features two different Valley actors on each evening of the run. Chip Roughton, of Florence, and Kimberly Salditt-Poulin, of Amherst, play the roles of “Andy” and “Melissa” for opening night on February 7. David Bull, of Hadley, and Becca Greene-Van Horn, of Amherst, take the stage the next night, on February 8. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, the cast features Paul Rothenberg and Katie Hertel, both of Amherst. The closing night show will be performed by Lisa Parker, of Suffield CT, and Konrad Rogowski, of Chicopee. The show is produced and directed by Matteo Pangallo, of Shutesbury.

Tickets for *Love Letters* are available on a pay-what-you- can system starting at $15. Before the show and during intermission, audience members will be able to purchase fine wine by the glass from Black Birch Vineyard and a selection of sodas from Harmony Springs of Ludlow. A delectable spread of light bites will be available for purchase as well, including a grazing bar of custom-crafted charcuterie boards and pre-ordered snack boxes from E Silver Charcuterie of Westfield. Black Birch wines will also be available for purchase by the bottle to take home.

Seating is limited, so advanced booking is strongly recommended. The show runs one hour and forty-five minutes, with a fifteen-minute intermission, and includes adult language and themes that may not be appropriate for all ages. The doors open at 6:30pm each evening and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.