"This show ... is a two-act valentine for couples, near-couples and anyone who has loved or regretted not loving a special person," said Joe Winters, describing "Love Letters," which will be performed at Susquehanna Stage from Friday, Feb. 11, through Monday, Feb. 14. "It's about regret, passion, romance and the mystery of what attracts two dissimilar people and how their lives are affected by their correspondence with each other. It's moving, funny and sad - an intricate showcase of what love means."

Written by A.R. Gurney, "Love Letters" is told through a lifetime of letters exchanged between Andrew "Andy" Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner. For the Susquehanna Stage production, eight actors will portray the characters, with a different duo performing each evening. Layne Zeiner and Deb Good-Zeiner, who are married in real life, will open the show on Feb. 11. Steve Sturgis and Christine Koslosky will perform on Saturday, Feb. 12. Winters will be joined on stage by Karen Roberts on Sunday, Feb. 13, and husband-and-wife duo John and Holly Kleimo will perform on Feb. 14.

Although the characters lead very different lives, said John Kleimo, their correspondence helps them remain close throughout their lifetimes. "It's a beautiful story," he stated. "It moves quickly, with moments of laughter and some very poignant moments as well."

Roberts describes the character of Melissa as a wealthy, artistic free spirit, noting, "(She is) smart, funny, moody and prone to rash decisions." By contrast, the character of Andy is more uptight. "He's a bit of a stuffy person who grows up with all the expectations of his family and the society around him," said Sturgis. "He is very ambitious, almost to a fault. He succeeds at what he sets out to do, but pays prices along the way for his choices."

Koslosky said the show will appeal to a wide variety of audiences because it is a show about love and friendship. "I'd say pretty much anyone interested in human relationships - which is all of us - could see this play and come away with lots to think about and, hopefully, with a renewed faith in the sometimes messy, but always interesting, ways that we humans relate to each other," she stated.

Good-Zeiner agreed, pointing out that audience members may recognize themselves in the couple on stage. "Come and see two real people laugh, struggle, celebrate and grow as they find themselves, and each other, over the passage of a lifetime," she stated. "You will laugh, maybe cry and find yourself in these two characters as they journey through the roller coaster we call life."

"Love Letters" will be performed at Susquehanna Stage, 133 W. Market St., Marietta. All performances will be at 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday's performance, which will be at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.susquehannastage.com.