THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020038
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
ANOTHER WEEK, another cast for ``Love Letters.''
Virginia Stage Company is staging the A.R. Gurney play with three different casts of celebrity couples. This week's loving couple is Barbara McNair and Paul Winfield, performing tonight through Sunday at the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk.
McNair, a singer and actress, has appeared on Broadway (``The Pajama Game'') and on television in such shows as ``Mission Impossible'' and ``The Jeffersons.'' Her films include ``They Call Me Mr. Tibbs'' with Sidney Poitier. Winfield has extensive credits in theater, film and television, from ``Richard III'' at Lincoln Center to the film ``Sounder.''
Van Johnson and Betsy Palmer performed the show last week. Next up are Ron Leibman and Jessica Walter (May 9-14).
``Love Letters'' brought sold-out houses for the Virginia Stage Company two years ago during a brief run featuring Charlton Heston and his wife, Lydia.
This bittersweet play opens in 1937. Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III are in second grade. One grows up to be an angst-filled artist; the other becomes a U.S. senator. Their paths are different, yet they continue to write to one another.
Show times are 8 p.m. today and Wednesday, 2 and 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 to $30. A backstage supper party is held with the cast each Friday evening after the performance, including gourmet meal, open bar and music. ($40 each, $70 a couple). Call 627-1234 for information. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Barbara McNair and Paul Winfield perform tonight through Sunday.
by CNB