⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Dear Jack, Dear Louise, a wartime love story told through letters and inspired by Ken Ludwig’s (the play’s writer) own parents, at Arcola Theatre is a two-hour delight of a show. The play sees two immensely likeable and endearing characters form a romantic connection despite being separated by the Second World War, making for an uplifting and charming evening at the theatre.

Beginning in June 1942, the play opens with Jack (Preston Nyman) writing a letter to Louise (Eva Feiler) on a typewriter, narrating aloud to the audience. We learn that Jack and Louise’s fathers are friends and suggested they introduce themselves to each other. Initially, the correspondence between them is slightly awkward, with Louise asking Jack to share something about himself and him offering up uninteresting facts about the population of his hometown in his nervousness. However, as they get to know each other over the many letters they exchange, epistolary formalities subside and “Sincerely”s become “Love”s. Both yearning to meet in person, Louise’s stories of pursuing a career on the Broadway stage keep army medic Jack entertained as he plays his part in the war effort, and we as the audience watch the pair gradually fall in love despite never having met.

Telling an entire story through the reading aloud of letters is a concept that, in the wrong hands, could become tedious. However, Ludwig’s laugh-out-loud funny and heartfelt writing, along with the impressive performances of the two actors and a clear vision from director Simon Reade, ensure the play is consistently engaging. I would challenge anyone not to beam from ear to ear while watching these two characters fall in love. Dear Jack, Dear Louise, though set in the 1940s, feels akin to watching the wartime equivalent of a burgeoning Hinge relationship, with the characters initially reluctant to double-message and calling out to each other when a letter goes unanswered for more than a couple of days, fearing they are being ghosted. Furthermore, Ludwig’s personal connection to and love for these characters - who are based on his parents - shines through in the writing at all times throughout the play.

In this two-hander, both performers deliver excellent performances. Nyman’s Jack is adorably embarrassed by his family’s excitement to meet Louise (even before he has managed to do so himself). Though initially more reserved, Nyman expertly portrays Jack as he gradually drops the formalities of full names and titles in his letters, and he has a particularly touching moment when he finally sees a photograph of the woman he has been corresponding with. Meanwhile, Feiler’s Louise bubbles with energy, offering effusive recounts of her antics as she pursues her dream of performing on Broadway. As Louise, Feiler is full of charisma and has an infectious energy as well as excellent stage presence throughout.

Reade’s direction sees the two actors read their letters aloud, always facing away from each other, which highlights both the distance between them and the strength of the actors’ chemistry. Though they mostly each keep to one side of the playing space, they are constantly moving rather than simply sitting at their desks to write (she with a quill and ink and he with a typewriter), keeping the staging dynamic. The set, designed by Robert Innes Hopkins, is staged in traverse, with half the audience on each side and a canopy of letters suspended from above. At one end of the stage is Jack’s army base, indicated by a red cross sign and an ironing board where his uniform is ready to be pressed. At the other is Louise’s room in her New York boarding house, draped in scarves and dresses. This design offers a glimpse into both worlds while leaving the centre of the stage empty: an effective choice that highlights the distance between the two characters.

Overall, Dear Jack, Dear Louise at Arcola Theatre is a romantic period piece that manages to avoid feeling dated. Charming characters, genuinely funny performances, and an uplifting story combine to create a thoroughly enjoyable play.

Dear Jack, Dear Louise runs at Arcola Theatre until 2nd May 2026.

Tickets Available Here