Letters from Max Review: Life, Death & Poetry
- Sarah Ruhl's play, "Letters From Max," now playing at London's Hampstead Theatre, originated from her correspondence with Max Ritvo, a former playwriting student at Yale.
- Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the play depicts Ruhl (Sirine Saba) and Ritvo (Eric Sirakian) as teacher and student, exploring life's lessons.
- Saba portrays Ruhl with a deliberate emotional restraint, while Sirakian captures Ritvo's initial playfulness. Sirakian's prior acquaintance with Ritvo adds depth to his performance. While the play captures...
Experience the profound beauty of “Letters From Max,” were Sarah Ruhl’s stage adaptation brings to life the poignant correspondence between Ruhl and her student, Max Ritvo.Delve into the play’s exploration of life,death,and faith,as the Hampstead Theatre production unveils a deeply moving narrative. Premiering until June 28, this adaptation adapts Ritvo’s letters that wrestle with the depths of human existence.Discover how this play, which features a mirrored screen and cello music, beautifully captures raw emotions. Through their words, the actors explore profound subjects while investigating the mysteries of existence. News Directory 3 found this production to be a unique theatrical experience. Don’t miss the limited engagement of “Letters From Max”; witness a story of friendship and mortality that asks the biggest questions. Discover what’s next at the Hampstead Theatre.
“Letters From Max” Explores Life, Death, and Faith On Stage
Updated June 03, 2025
Sarah Ruhl’s play, ”Letters From Max,” now playing at London’s Hampstead Theatre, originated from her correspondence with Max Ritvo, a former playwriting student at Yale. Ritvo, a poet who battled Ewing’s sarcoma, exchanged letters with Ruhl on profound subjects like life, death, God, and faith until his death five years later. These exchanges formed the basis of a 2018 book and now this stage adaptation.
Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the play depicts Ruhl (Sirine Saba) and Ritvo (Eric Sirakian) as teacher and student, exploring life’s lessons. The set, designed by Dick Bird, features a mirrored screen, visually representing the abstract nature of life and death. Stunning cello accompaniment, composed by Laura Moody, enhances the dialog, including a recreation of Philip Glass’s “Einstein on the Beach.”
Saba portrays Ruhl with a deliberate emotional restraint, while Sirakian captures Ritvo’s initial playfulness. Sirakian’s prior acquaintance with Ritvo adds depth to his performance. While the play captures the ineffable, it curates Ritvo’s raw emotions, focusing on intellectual topics. A singular moment occurs when Ritvo shouts “I DON’T HAVE TIME,” revealing the underlying anger and fear.
The intimacies are in their words.
What’s next
“Letters From Max” continues its run at Hampstead theatre until June 28, offering audiences a cerebral exploration of life’s biggest questions through the lens of friendship and mortality.