It was a different arena Calvert County’s favorite son, George W. Owings III, entered Feb. 13. While he didn’t have to ride a horse or kiss a girl, he did have to step out of character and display a flair for acting.

Owings, the former state legislator and Department of Veterans Affairs secretary who is a candidate for governor, performed in the Twin Beach Players presentation of “Love Letters,� which was held at the Holland Point Civic Center, just over the Calvert line in southern Anne Arundel.

The event was a Valentine’s Day fund-raiser for the community theatre organization, which is planning four big productions this year. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row, the Twin Beach Players will host a children’s playwriting festival in August.

“This was fun,� said Owings, who co-starred with Twin Beach Players regular Regan Cashman.

“George didn’t do this for political gain,� said Tom Wines, who directed the show. “He did it to support the arts.�

“Love Letters� is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by A.R. Gurney. It was first performed in 1988.

The two characters, Andrew Makepeace Ladd III (Owings) and Melissa Gardner (Cashman) read the letters, notes and cards they have sent to each other since their first meeting as grade school students. The correspondence spans over half a century.

Owings indicated earlier that since the actors had their scripts on the set, memorization of lines, a big concern of most unseasoned actors, was not a concern.

In addition to the play, which had the audience laughing and, at times, misty-eyed and spellbound, the evening’s festivities included a sumptuous buffet supper with dessert at intermission, a silent auction featuring an array of show business memorabilia and what turned out to be a raucous wine auction.

Although it wasn’t in the script, Cashman even got to display her choreography skills.

During intermission a lighted candle was knocked off a table, sparking a brief fire, which set off the building’s smoke alarm.

Cashman acted quickly, stomping the fire out, and saving the day.

Ironically, the Twin Beach Players next production will be Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof� this April.

E-mail Marty Madden at editorial@calvertindependent.com.