SALT LAKE CITY — Have you ever had a loved one suffer from addiction? Have you ever been there yourself? Love, Ann follows the true story of Ann Logan Corthell, written by her son, Harrison Corthell, about her estrangement from her children. The show uses the real letters she sent from rehab as well as videos and pictures and audio recordings from the family worked into the production by technical director Emma Thompson.
The set was interesting, with a bare mattress in the middle, a box of pictures and random memoirs, and a few pieces of furniture to adorn the mother’s apartment space. Thompson played audio of Ann’s family members telling her story, including Ann’s obituary, indicating that Ann is telling her story from beyond the grave.
April Fossen, playing Ann Logan Corthell, had superb acting skills. Not only did she take the role of storyteller, but she emoted about losing her babies and the other difficulties in her lifetime. When the videos and pictures began to show, I appreciated director Teresa Sanderson‘s impeccable timing in making the videos mesh with Fossen’s words and actions.
Though this was hard for me to see, I know so many people can find solace in Love, Ann. , The story is real and shows how people often hide behind masks of perfection and happiness that prevents them from addressing their problems. I highly recommend seeing this production. However, the story is extremely emotional, and if a story of the pains of addiction is too traumatic, then Love, Ann may be more painful than cathartic. (There were many moments that were hard for me to hear because someone behind me was crying nearly the whole time.)
