Set in 1973, Maurice receives an invitation to come and visit his old friend Victor, a former trade union leader, at home. When he arrives, Victor’s wife Sonia greets Maurice with hostility. Victor pretends to her that Maurice is only visiting by chance. After she leaves, Victor tells Maurice of a book he is writing on the history of art.
He also admits that he is dying of myeloid leukaemia and only has a few months left to live and that he hasn’t told Sonia. Over the course of the play Victor shows Maurice the letters that Sonia has mailed to him and then brought to him with the rest of the post. Maurice reads the letter, which recalls her and Victor’s courtship and how they first clashed over her conventional religious upbringing.
(L) Jack Buckley, (C) Michael Smoker, (R) Louise Leavey
This is a hard topic and one that the cast were able to pull off with such a level a beauty and respect after the first initial hostility that Sonia shows Maurice you are gently dragged into this world and life. Louise as Sonia posses the true burden, anger, and sadness that her character is faced with. Some of the simplest movements that she would do on set, some of her glances showed us the difficulty she was facing. There where moments I felt like going up to her and telling her things where going to be alright her performance really touches you and she really give Sonia life.
One of the key aspects of the play was the way in which the letters where introduced and read rather incredibly the letters where read by Sonia, pre-recorded, whilst Jack (Maurice) is looking at them pensively whilst the rest of the cast are simply pictured in the background. As each of these letters are read Sonia expresses all the things she has held in throughout her marriage and they are more than love letters or validation they
Michael Smoker as Victor and Jack Buckley as Maurice form a close bond on stage. You want at some point for Victor to talk to his wife in the same way that he is able to talk to Maurice, you don’t get angry that Victor isn’t talking to his wife in the same way but when each of the letters are read you get such an insight into the life they had. Michael makes Victor a fighter even when facing death and though there are times Victor thinks there is no point only illustrates the fear he might be facing, death an inevitability.
Rehersing Before Edinburgh Fringe 2009
Jack Buckley, 18, plays Maurice with a maturity and conviction that doesn’t just complement the role but is one that respectfully mirrors that performances by his colleagues. At one point Victor asks Maurice to tell him about when his mother died and the monologue that follows was done with such a skill and understanding it really does touch you.
Love Letters on Blue Paper was such a pleasure to watch. This is what the Fringe is about, passionate performers, creators , and originators that can bring such a sweet and meaningful play like this to life. Jack seems to have been guided so well by the company and shines on stage. And Louise re-creates the struggles that millions of women in the 1970′s had gone through.
Michael Smoker directs the play with more than a understanding of the subject matter and a respect for the piece. The interwoven story, the political references, and the time and place are unchangeable and lift the play. Your allowed to see a time that’s gone and lost to us now, illnesses that are no longer life threatening but once where, and you see a company shine in their production.
I was watching this sat next to a young lady who was captivated by the whole show, she came in late but was unable to take her eyes off the set, this is what Jack, Michael and Louise where able to create, a play that truly captivated you.
‘A finely performed piece…a play with real passion’ ****Four Stars
Starring
Michael Smoker (Victor), Jack Buckley (Maurice), Louise Leavey (Sonia)
dir. Michael Smoker
8:10pm, The Space on the Mile @ The Radisson, Edinburgh, £8 (£4)
