Mysore/Mysuru: The English play ‘Love Letters,’ authored by A.R. Gurney, was staged by the artistes of Mysore English Theatre Forum (METF) at Jagannatha Centre for Art and Culture (JCAC) at Vijayanagar here yesterday.

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, ‘Love Letters’ traces the lifelong, complex relationship between two characters through a series of letters exchanged over decades. It is a play built entirely on the power of words, silences and what lies between the lines, and METF’s rendition rose beautifully to that challenge.

Kitty Mandana and Badri Narayan Krishnan, both from Mysuru, were, quite simply, made for their roles. Their readings were subtle, textured and emotionally pitch-perfect, effortlessly drawing the audience into the private, evolving world of two characters who never share the stage, yet are intimately bound by a lifetime of correspondence. Their fictional personas felt fully lived in and the chemistry between their voices was remarkable.

The set design was an understated delight, charming period furniture adorned with delicate vases and soft table lamps. Director Dr. Krishna Prasad’s casting was, as he himself noted, the true highlight of the play.

Behind the scenes, the production was impeccably managed by Dr. Nima Manjrekar and the entire presentation stood as a testament to what passionate, theatre-loving doctors can create when they step beyond their day jobs.

In a world that moves too fast, ‘Love Letters’ reminded us of the enduring beauty of slow, handwritten affection and this METF production captured that spirit with elegance, heart and a touch of Mysurean magic.