Churchmice going on road

The Churchmice Players from Camrose will be taking their show on the road for a performance at the Daysland's Palace Theatre on Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m..

Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, reveals a story that starts in the late 1930s and spans about 50 years. A girl and a boy meet in elementary school and they develop a friendship that lasts throughout their adult lives. "The story is about Andrew Makepeace Ladd III who is a child from an upper middle class family who lives a rather straight and narrow life," explained Art Fadum, who plays the character. "Eventually, he becomes a senator (in the United States). He has this friend, Melissa Cardner, who is his high school sweetheart. Due to circumstances beyond their control,  they find that their parents keep sending them off in different directions. They keep in touch through correspondence. The audience ends up pulling for them because they both end up making terrible mistakes."

Though they occasionally drift apart, there is some kind of deep attraction, which keeps them coming back to each other. "The friendship becomes romantic, but he goes off to war and she gets married to someone else. Then she is divorced, but he marries someone else and it goes back and forth," said Sylvia Lyon, who plays the part of Melissa. "It is a contrast of personalities. I'm wild and rich, and get what ever I want, when I want it. I'm an artist and he is a businessman."

The two people don't have a lot in common, other than a certain attraction to each other. "Even if we did get together, we probably couldn't stand each other," laughed Art.

Andrew becomes a lawyer and a politician, but Melissa is filthy rich and has a mother who has a drinking problem. "Eventually, they have an affair. Finally, they may be more than friends. He gets cold feet after thinking about what a divorce would do to his political career."

The show was performed in Camrose last May. "People in Daysland asked us if we would come out and do the show," said Sylvia. "We really appreciate Daysland asking us out, because this is the first time we have performed out there. It will be a good experience. It is perfect for a small play like this."

The audience can sit back and enjoy the performance. "With just the two of us on stage and no costume changes, it is an easy production to take on the road," added Art.

The two characters are on stage for about two hours revealing their thoughts and reasons for the actions they take. "The show was well received. What was good for me, was the fact it is totally different than anything we have done before," said Art.

He has been cast for many parts since 1991. Art's first performance was as Mr. Bumble in the Churchmice Players first version of Oliver. He has acted, been part of the set building crew and a musician. In this spring's Oliver, he will be conducting the orchestra.

Sylvia joined a year later and launched her acting passion in Anne of Green Gables. She enjoys directing shows, as well as acting. Love Letters is directed by Peter LeBlanc and produced by Theo Thirsk.

Tickets for Love Letters can be purchased for $15 in advance at Cathel Books in Camrose, Jerry's Pharmacy in Daysland and at the Palace Theatre prior to the show date. They cost $25 at the door.