'Dear Jack, Dear Louise', Heart-Stirring Romance Told Through Wartime Love Letters, Dazzles In Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — There's a valentine of a show opening Friday at Center Stage at the Southampton Arts Center that will make even the most hardened of hearts believe, maybe for the first time, in the eternal power of love.

Celebrating a weekend of Valentine's romance, the Long Island debut of Ken Ludwig’s “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” a true story and staged reading of an enduring passion ignited by the power of wartime love letters, is set to capture hearts and spark memories long after audiences have left the theater.

Starring Barbara Jo Howard and Jack Seabury and directed by the iconic Michael Disher, the show runs from February 13 to 15, with shows at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 15 at the Southampton Arts Center.

The piece centers on two strangers who begin exchanging missives during World War II. U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig is a military doctor stationed in Oregon; he begins writing to Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress and dancer in New York City, hoping to meet her in person someday — one day, any day, anywhere.

In fact, some of the most heart-aching moments ensue as the pair envision that oft-dreamt of elusive four-day leave Jack hopes will be granted, the seemingly larger-than-life date. Oh, the plans! There would be dinner! A Broadway show! And maybe, if Jack can overcome his innate shy nature, a night of romance-kissed dancing.

But it's wartime and dates are canceled, dreams dashed daily, as horrors unfold on battlefields and in hearts across the world.

At first, the two just don't appear to share much in common. She's a Brooklyn girl with a salty tongue — sending letters punctuated with outbursts of "Hells bells" — and a penchant for dancing and music and all the color and drama of the stage..

"I want to be on Broadway so badly I could cry," she tells her Jack.

"I worry mainly worry about the boys," he says, in turn, describing the grim realities of his wartime life — the quiet agony of treating thousands of soldiers, gravely injured — and then, the sheer joy of seeing their faces come alive again with emotion as their broken bodies heal.

But the endings aren't always happy ones. "Some of them just don't get better," the words whisper, across miles and heartbeats.

He's a quiet man, taciturn, who once dreamed of architecture but instead found himself in the business of saving lives. She's a bright, sparkling burst of talent, energy and sheer life, waiting for her star turn in the lights.

Implausible, yes — but somehow, some way, with the dusting of magic and stardust inherent in any great love story, Jack and Louise are destined to find their forever soul mate in one another, overcoming all odds and distances.

Because, despite their innate differences, the love, it takes root and blossoms over countless letters crossing stormy seas. She meets his family, his posse of aunts —don't ask her about his sister Betty, who may or may not have purposefully pushed Louise out a window!

Through their letters, the starring characters in their respective lives come to vivid life — his mother, her back-stabbing roommate Cynthia Monroe who steals a coveted Broadway role in "Arsenic and Old Lace," by winning the favor of famed directors Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.

The letters, they reflect deeply-woven dreams, the everyday foibles and daily accounts we share only with the one person we trust with the stories of our lives. She asks for advice on what songs to sing for an audition; he sends back a telegram so she'll get his choices on time. He describes the grim truth of what D-Day was really like, despite what was reported in the newspapers back home.

What makes this show simply sublime is that it's not about just letters, sometimes tearstained, filled with yearning and truth, sent over miles and years as the chapters of their respective lives unfold. Instead, what the audience watches, with rapt wonder, is a real-life relationship taking shape onstage — despite the fact that Jack and Louise have never even met.

The emotions, they are palpable, vivid and real.

Through their written words, the pair finds the first, shy hints of something greater than a mere pen pal. They tentatively see the birth of trust as they share anecdotes and memories, flirt, and then . . .fall head over heels as the greetings become informal, first names used, finally, as salutation.

Together, Jack and Louise take the leap and plunge headlong into the dizzying bliss of something more. When Jack signs his letter with "Love," for the first time, Louise's face breaks into a smile wide enough to bring tears to even the most jaded of broken hearts.

In turn, Jack's boyish grin and even an actual blush, when he sees his Louise's photo for the first time, brings hope to even the most broken-hearted lover, the glimmer of possibility reborn.

But no path to real, lasting love is ever completely without obstacle. True to any real-life love story, the daunting challenges encountered in longtime relationships emerge. There's jealousy, yes —as well as the deep ache of betrayal and the desperate pain of broken promises never uttered.

Because this show is not just about letters, about putting pencil or pen to paper and stamping an envelope.

"Dear Jack, Dear Louise" captures the truth of every glorious moment that ensues when two strangers, implausibly and miraculously and across miles, find the loves of their lives.

Seabury's Jack and Howard's Louise are impeccably cast. Their faces as they read one another's letters onstage is a love story unfolding all its own in tender, hopeful, passionate glory – their eyes bright with promise, smiles fierce with hope, tears flowing in pain and fear as air sirens screech.

Seabury and Howard, on this singular stage, deliver tour de force performances perfectly nuanced and rich with emotion. A single look, a too-quiet pause, the inflection in every word, read aloud from a page worn from being held so tightly — together, they breathe vibrant, intense life into Jack and Louise's story and elevate it off the page and straight into the hearts of any audience fortunate enough to experience this heartfelt valentine of a production.

Always, above all, there is the ever-present drumbeat of fear that colors wartime. Jack, clinging to the pages from Louise, to letters describing the glitz and glamour of Broadway openings as bombs implode and he drops to the floor — conveys, in a heartbeat, the horror of battle, portrays the constant, crippling fear felt across the world by loved ones never knowing if they'll see the face of their true loves again.

Much must be said about the images that play on a screen above the stage as the show evolves. Images of the war-torn landscapes of World War II are a stark contrast to the black-and-white photos of the glitzy movie stars of the day. Jack dreams of film siren Hedy Lamarr while the faces of young solders broken and bleeding on the field pierce the heart.

And then, there is the final montage. During rehearsals for "Dear Jack, Dear Louise", Disher put out a call for couples and their families to send in real-life photos from 1940s romances — and the responses overwhelmed. The treasure trove of stories and photos sparked a flood of emotion and are guaranteed to hold the audience captivated as they put the finishing touch on one of the finest shows ever to grace the stage of the Southampton Arts Center.

The show is a sweet homage to the power of eternal love, Disher noted. “It is a joyful piece, full of Ludwig’s wit and warmth. And a perfect, perfect Valentine’s weekend date. Valentine's Day, to me, is so much more than flowers, a card or a box of candy. It is a celebration of love, and in this show, a testament to perseverance and commitment," Disher said. "Sadly, except for a few special occasions, letter writing has mostly faded into antiquity. Emails, while mostly written, are ubiquitous and more immediate. Emojis have replaced words."

He added: "I hope this piece ignites a resurgence in penned correspondence. Maybe I'm too reflective and nostalgic, but I often long for those simpler times and their mindful merit. I know I'm not alone. To all who submitted photos and stories and tales of soldiers and their valentines, I thank you. And I hope this tale of love during uncertain times reminds us of the strength acquired through faith and hope in long-lasting unions. For better or worse, I know I do."

Reflecting on what this production means to him, Disher added: "Beware the seemingly simple show — for they never are. This show presented more layers and textures than I thought existed. This is largely due to Jack and Barbara Jo."

With audiences, Disher shares his message: "Like love, let this show evolve with you — not for you. Never question the gifts given. There is reason, too often without rhyme, and love can be as bold and as quiet as one never imagines."

And, he added, the show holds life-changing meaning for those grappling to find love on today's uncertain landscape. "It may sound incongruous, but sometimes memories are what we should aspire to. A true lover, a true hero, is often the one who silently accepts the challenges of imperfect relationships. And that each day adds that bit more to the most needed ingredient — endurance. I think we sometimes forget this."

Disher feels deep pride for the piece. "Many hours went into its development and rehearsals. I think both Jack and Barbara Jo are doing some of their best work in this show. I am honored to be share this journey with them."

"Dear Jack, Dear Louise" may leave a forever mark on audiences' hearts, he said. "Watching this echo of a pair who learn to love and live through letters might inspire us to, once again, pick up a pen. We all love getting mail — getting letters. There's a reason so many have found and saved so many missives from people who knew the connection made by mail — that emails simply can't."

Stage management by Joey Giovingo and lighting, sound and production design by Ken Blessing create a show that delivers a powerful impact in the simplicity of its staging and spot-on direction by Disher, who breathes life and beauty into every word uttered by Seabury and Howard.

"Dear Jack, Dear Louise" is a show that takes the notion of magical, destined-to-be forever love and lays it bare, all its human yearning and innate frailties exposed and explored by an audience held rapt by the power of, quite simply, the sheer force of written words.

In this sparkling gem of a production, words on pages hold the power to elicit laughter, sublime joy, and tears of abject sorrow as the scenes unfold. It's a not-to-be missed valentine.

Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton. For additional information and tickets, click here.