DEAR ELIZABETH - VAN FRINGE 2018

Dear Reader/Listener,
Wunderdog Theatre’s production of Dear Elizabeth is a touching portrayal of the 30-year pen-pal friendship between two poets – Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell. The script consists entirely of quotes from the letters exchanged between them. The rare moments when the two do meet in real life are very short and staged in silence. It made me wonder what was left unsaid in their relationship, in real life and in the curated selection of letters presented in the play. What was crystal clear though, was the admiration, support, and love these two had for one another. Alexis Kellum-Creer’s performance as Elizabeth and Anthony Santiago’s as Robert achieved a level of emotional eloquence and complexity that really brought these letters to life. 
Sincerely Yours,
Sonja

PS – Sonja’s musings in light of seeing this play: 

• How often were Elizabeth and Robert’s letters handwritten? Composed on a typewriter? 
• Do any of my Facebook/WhatsApp/Viber/SMS text message exchanges ever reach their level of emotional complexity and sincere connection to another person?
  
• I loved the meta-theatricality of the argument scene – this is the only time the two characters speak over each other (not really possible with letters and a divergence from the orderly turn-taking format of the rest of the show).
  
• What is Wunderdog Theatre working on next? I will be keeping an eye on this theatre company!

~ reviewed by Sonja Cvoric