Dear Jack, Dear Louise
Using a line in Ken Ludwig's Dear Jack, Dear Louise at the Northlight Theatre, this play is the bee's knees. This superb narration of Ludwig's parents' courtship during World War II brings back the beauty of long-distance romance and the intimacy of writing letters to someone you love during war-time — this is a phenomenal production.
Dear Jack, Dear Louise is a romantic love story where two strangers are brought together when Jack's father suggests he meet Louise, their friends' daughter. However, Army Captain Jack Ludwig is a war-time doctor during World War II and can only communicate with Louise, an aspiring actress, and dancer, by sending letters. They develop a pen-pal friendship that turns into a loving relationship; however, the war hinders their ability to meet. Through their letters, Jack and Louise become inseparable as the years go by; but as the war continues, it threatens to end their relationship before it even starts or they have the chance to meet.
With the computer age and advanced technology, the world has lost the personal intimacy of penning your thoughts to paper. And with the quick desire to meet and match with others, the joys of learning about a person have been lost to relationship coaches and articles that tell us five or ten things needed to develop a solid connection. Dear Jack, Dear Louise, is a reminder that love takes time and developing a relationship is forever.
Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig tells the delightful, joyous, heartwarming story of his parents' courtship is uplifting and a total rom-com (comedies of manners) during a time before anything was called a romantic comedy. Their love is the backbone of Ludwig's desire to bring their letters into this fantastic play, Dear Jack, Dear Louise.
Opening in 2019, Ludwig's Dear Jack, Dear Louise is centered around the relationship between U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig (Casey Hoekstra) and Louise Rabiner (Sarah Price). Hoekstra and Price's performance is so magical that you feel you have been bestowed a gift from the past as you glimpse upon their beautiful love story unfolding before you. Both are making their Northlight Theatre debut, and their chemistry on stage is magnificent.
Director Jessica Fisch shared a beautiful history of her maternal grandparents, Selma Poll and Haskell Handler, whose relationship was prolonged during World War II. Fisch found a box full of letters while visiting her grandmom, Selma (Nana). Running her fingers over the yellowed airmail envelopes outlined in red, white, and blue, she opened them to discover their incredible relationship. So she set out to make this play to honor her grandparents.
If you are looking for a romantic evening of theater, Dear Jack, Dear Louise in Skokie, IL, is the bee's knees.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Dear Jack, Dear Louise at Northlight Theatre.
Northlight Theatre
Dear Jack, Dear Louise
Written by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Jessica Fisch
JULY 7 - AUGUST 7, 2022
