DECATUR - Slow ticket sales have halted the event which was to close Saturday's Shadows of Lincoln Festival.

"Love Letters," a two-person play starring real-life husband-and-wife team Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland, was canceled Monday afternoon with only about 250 tickets sold. The Lincoln Square Theatre holds 1,100.

"I was truly hoping the theater could sustain a show without having to go to the corporate community for support," said Carla Brinkoetter, chairwoman of the Lincoln's advisory board. "I believe it still can.

"But I think we were ambitious with the pricing."

Original ticket prices for the event were $75-50-35, and a $200 VIP ticket also was offered. Prices were cut late last week, but that cut didn't spark enough sales to make the event viable.

Brinkoetter said the actors had reduced their fee from $50,000 to $15,000, and additional fees connected with the production were reduced. But the ticket sales discouraged continuing with the presentation.

"I talked with Richard Gilliland," Brinkoetter said, "and he told me not to be discouraged, because this is happening all over the country. It isn't just a Decatur thing.

"He also told me he was especially disappointed, because now he has to figure out what to do with his wife for their anniversary," which is Saturday.

Brinkoetter said she's talked with other theatrical entities that are having their own economic issues.

"I hope it's a phase and it comes back around," she said. "That's a good outlet."

Tim Cain can be reached at timcain@ herald-review.com or 421-6908.