There is

nothing as powerful as a love letter.

The

correspondence between two kindred spirits has engaged

nearly everyone at some point in their lives. It is

because it is such a universal experience that

productions like the perennial Broadway favorite

"Love Letters" and "Shadowlands," to

be performed soon at the Alliance Theatre, find success

with a wide audience.

Starting

Jan. 13, the Alliance Theatre will present the story of

C.S. Lewis and his marriage to American poet Joy Davidman

Gresham. "Shadowlands" has been written for

nearly every medium, starting first with a script written

for television that was never produced.

The author

of the play, William Nicholson, revived the idea and saw

it performed as a TV film in 1985, a play in 1990

performed in London and on Broadway, and a film starring

Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger in 1993. He penned all

three versions of the script.

The story

deals with the true story of Lewis and Gresham, who first

find friendship as pen pals. The fiery Gresham visits

England one summer with her son and ends up marrying

Lewis, the reclusive scholar, to stay in the country.

Though the two have formed a close, intellectual

relationship, it is not until Lewis finds he might lose

Gresham to illness that he discovers his true love for

the woman.

The story

is quite interesting, not only because it deals with one

of the greatest British scholars and authors of the 20th

century, but because the characters' thoughts and actions

are so universal. The same things are felt and said

today, 50 years later.

Lewis was a

renowned theological author, often articulating his

perspectives on the Christian faith. It is through his

relationship with Gresham that he truly experiences the

faith that he so often wrote about.

"Shadowlands"

will run Jan. 13 - Feb. 6 at the Alliance Theater.

Performances are Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at

2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinees will be Jan. 29 at

2:30 p.m (audio described) and Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. (sign

interpreted).

Tickets are

$15-$40 and may be purchased at the Woodruff Arts Center

Box Office or by calling 404-733-5000. Tickets also may

be ordered on-line at www.alliancetheatre.org .

"Shadowlands"

is the type of piece that will remind you what we, as

humans, truly seek in other people.

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