COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 8, 2017 11A
"Love Letters" coming in time for Valentine's Day
The Opal Center is kicking off their 2017 Season with a romantic
fl avor on February 10th and 11th at 7:30 pm. The 1991 Pulitzer
Prize winner in Drama, Love Letters by A.R. Gurney, tells the story
of Andy and Melissa. These childhood friends lives are told through
letters and post cards sent over a lifetime. It is a stirring tale of love,
loss, and ultimately separate lives tied together through the written
word. Tickets are $12 and are available through Opal's website or at
the box offi ce at The Crafty Mercantile at 517 E Main.
Opal Center's production features Eliza Roaring Springs and
Claude Offenbacher as the two protagonists. This is the fi rst pro-
duction at the Opal Center for both of these experienced actors.
Claude began acting (in French, his native language) at age 10 in
NYC, and, since coming to Eugene in the early 1990's, has directed
or performed in more than a dozen plays -- mostly at The Very
Little Theatre, where he's a Life Member, as well as two at Cot-
tage Theatre. He also takes satisfaction in initiating the role of the
late Senator Wayne Morse in Portland playwright Charles Deemer's
American Gadfl y in four Oregon cities.)
"Love Letters" speaks to him through its sensitive characteriza-
tions, as well as its personal points of contact: Like the character he
plays, Claude has a Yale degree, graduate degrees from Harvard,
and lived fi ve years at a New England prep school (as a teacher).
Also, Andrew is the name of the elder of his two sons. Claude is
a former school administrator and, more recently, a retired KLCC
news reporter and program host. "I'm delighted to again be direct-
ed by David and to once more be on-stage with Eliza, two theater
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colleagues I treasure... as I do Hanna, my wife of 48 years, to whom
my life is dedicated." says Offenbacher.
Eliza has been acting, directing, and writing for the theater for the
last 45 years. Her most recent endeavors have been at Cottage The-
atre, where she directed A Christmas Story, Quilters, and Almost
Maine. She’s had the opportunity to play many great roles, both
on stage and off, but perhaps her most satisfying was as the creator
of Encore Theatre, a senior theater company that performed plays
based on their own personal experiences, performed free for young
people all over Oregon.
Eliza’s favorite kind of theater is very simple. It involves a good
story being enacted by good actors in a simple space, made eas-
ily accessible to everyone. Opal Center seems to fi ll that niche
very well. She is pleased to be a part of this production, and looks
forward to continued involvement at Opal. (She will be directing
Talking With there this July.) "I hope that Love Letters moves each
of you to remember and honor both your past and present loves and
friends." says Roaring Springs.
This is director David Work's fourth production at the Opal Cen-
ter under his direction, although has been the producer of others
since his debut at Opal with The Iliad, the Odyssey, and all of Greek
Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less in 2014. He likes to fi nd stories
that play well inside Opal's 'black box' simplicity. "I’m also drawn
to plays that tell a story about ordinary people and their extraordi-
nary relationships." Work explains, " As a play about the intertwin-
ing lives of two people throughout their lives, it helps us remember
our own struggles and triumphs."
Love Letters has been produced throughout the United States and
around the world and has starred many of Hollywood's leading cou-
ples, including most recently, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks in No-
vember 2016. In 1999, it was adapted by Gurney into a TV movie
which starred Laura Linney and Stephen Weber. It has also been
adapted into other languages around the world.
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DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
What: Love Letters
When: February 10th & 11th
at 7:30 pm
Where: Opal Center for
Arts and Education,
513 E Main Street,
Cottage Grove
Tickets: www.opalcentercg.org
or at The Crafty Mercantile
Price: $12.00
Bonus: Show proof of ticket
purchase at Jack Sprats and get
$2.00 off an entree!
COTTAGE GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Sponsored by Banner Bank
SafeTravel Seminar
March 8, 2017
5:30 doors open. Seminar from 6:00 - 7:30pm
Th e Brewstation - 106 South 6th Street
Your Regional Public Transportation Service
No elgibility requirements.
541-942-0456
southlanewheels.org
To register in advance, contact Travis Palmer, Director
of the Chamber of Commerce
(541) 942-2411, travis@cgchamber.com
Romance for Two
Enjoy a Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two
Bring your Sweetheart
to Torero’s this Valentine’s Day!
Great Food s Specials s Cocktails
119 South 6th St. • CG • 541-942-0505
Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14
Order Early
for Best Selection of Quality Flowers
for your Special Valentine!
1205 HWY 99N s CG
G s 541-942-1155
4 4
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OPEN
UNDAY
Beautiful Rose Arrangements
9-1
Creative Floral Arrangements
Unique Selection of Fine Gifts & Clothing
Festive Balloon Bouquets
Candy Basket of Fine Chocolates
Blooming Plants & Basket Gardens
Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards
Call or Come By for our In-store Specials!
• Locally owned and operated since 1984
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Get a little closer this
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Prices starting
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Patton’s Country Gardens
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Lots of In-store Specials
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Local Delivery Available
1 Mile North of Old Delight Valley School
80432 Delight Valley School Rd.
541-942-7672
Join us for
Dinner for TWO
including Chocolate Lava Cake & 2 Drinks
$45.
00
EL TAPATIO
725 E. Gibbs Ave. • Cottage Grove
541-767-0467