Acclaimed actresses Ellen McLaughlin (“King Lear”) and Kathleen Chalfant (“The Affair”) were back in the Off-Broadway production of “Pen Pals,” which is being played at the DR2 Theatre in Manhattan.
“Pen Pals” was written by Michael Griffo and directed by SuzAnne Barabas. It features a rotating cast of actresses, and it celebrates the power of friendship through handwritten letters that were exchanged over five decades.
This time, the actresses swapped roles (as Bernie and Mags) and the result was magical. Chalfant took on the role of Bernie while McLaughlin was Mags (in the second week of their run).
“Pen Pals” was inspired by a true story and it invites audiences into the lives of Bernie and Mags — two women whose bond, forged in adolescence, endures for 50 years despite never meeting in person or even talking on the phone.
In this Off-Broadway production, Bernie and Mags live in two different places (Sheffield, England, and Newark, New Jersey), and while they haven’t met in person, they are best friends through their intimate and honest letters to one another.
Ever since their teenage years, they’ve shared every part of their lives together, which include their innermost secrets (first crushes, relationships, family, offspring, relatives, classmates, and the drama that came in their personal lives, and even medical scares).
Conclusion
All in all, Ellen McLaughlin and Kathleen Chalfant soared once again in “Pen Pals,” this time changing roles. This showcased a great deal of trust on their part; they took a risk and it worked, and it resonated well with the DR2 Theatre audience.
Very few actresses can pull that off… Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon were a prime example of that when they did “The Little Foxes,” where they changed roles/characters from Act I to Act II (albeit different circumstances).
“As much as I liked Ellen and Kathleen in ‘Pen Pals’ last week, they are just as good, if not better, this week in their swapped roles,” Chrissy Antosca, fan and attendee said.
Once again, McLaughlin and Chalfant deserved to be commended for a terrific job… and for keeping “Pen Pals” interesting! Let’s see if other actresses will follow this precedent that they set.
To learn more about the Off-Broadway play “Pen Pals,” check out the official homepage.
