Letters to the End of the World
cast list
Shannon Burkett, Francesca Choy-Kee, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, Peter O’Connor, Chalres Socarides
directed by
Anton Dudley
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Letters To The End Of The World is a wonderfully satisfying piece of theatre. The creation of writer-director Anton Dudley, a simple plot summary doesn’t take into account much of the play’s emotions. Letters concerns the journey of a delicate young man named Todd, the privileged (but not spoiled) son of New Yorkers.
Todd is still young enough to yearn to do “global good" and frustrated that he doesn’t know how to proceed. Todd finds articles by a teacher in Africa, a woman named Agnatha, with whom he starts a correspondence. Ultimately, their letters multiply an ache he already feels to do “more,” and so it is no surprise that in the second act he travels to Africa to help at the school.
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What is a surprise is the daily events that occur there, not full of overwrought dramatic shenanigans but populated by the day-to-day lives that Todd encounters. It is a simple premise, executed plainly and acted with touching gentleness.
Charles Socarides illuminates Todd as an idealistic young who thinks of himself as an old soul and desperately wants to be useful. Todd epitomizes the story of youthful frustration – full of hope and idealism but without the experience to turn desire into deeds. Mr. Socarides’ actions, reactions, fears, and wonderment anchor a wild mix of characters into a believable whole. Shannon Burkett plays the American teacher in Africa and her sister, Tess, in New York. As Agnatha she is convincing and realistic, but Dudley's writing lets her down in her dual role as Tess. It would have been simpler to use a different actress altogether.
Tyrone Mitchell Henderson and Francesca Choy-Kee play the teachers in the African school. They bring both warmth and restraint to well-written roles, and they provide a glimpse into a life that is foreign to both Todd and the audience. Finally Peter O’Conner plays Bryan, Todd’s quasi-boyfriend. Bryan has to understand his own journey with regards to Todd. The script and Mr. O’Conner give just enough hints to allow the audience to devise their own insights into this relationship without cheating the story.
Credit has to go to Anton Dudley, who both wrote a beautiful story and manages to elicit delicacate performances from these great actors. The story juggles at least three stories excellently while never losing focus on the human relationships that lie at the heart of drama.
At Hand Theatre Company, which produced Letters, has a mission to produce original work using sustainable means, and so there is very little in the way of sets. The sense of place is never lost, and credit there goes to the actors, director and beautiful lighting design by Ryan Bauer. With a bench and a painted wall, the audience is transported between New York and Zambia effortlessly.
Letters To The End Of The World explores stories that are familiar. The joy in this show is the unique manner that the audience is presented these stories through the eyes of people with foibles, hope, and love.
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New York reviews
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Three Sisters, Classic Stage Company
The Piano Lesson, Yale Repertory Theatre
The Momentum, Laurie Beechman Theatre
The Walk Across America for Mother Earth, La MaMa E.T.C.
John Gabriel Borkman, BAM Harvey Theater
Blood From a Stone, Acorn Theatre
Malfi, Inc., Theatre 54
Pieces, 59E59 Theaters
A Delicate Balance, Yale Repertory Theatre
The Memorandum, Beckett Theatre
The Scottsboro Boys, Lyceum Theatre
Driving Miss Daisy, Golden Theatre
Futura, TBG Theatre
La Bete, The Music Box Theatre
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
A Life in the Theatre, Schoenfeld Theatre
In Transit, 59E59 Theaters
theatre
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