From Kris:
I've never met Mary Beth Evans. I do, however, have wonderful memories of her work over the years. She is one of the few actresses who has left a lasting impression on me, this in spite of the fact that she is no longer on my TV screen on a regular basis. I like several daytime actresses. I enjoy their work a great deal, but only the test of time will indicate whether or not they can have as big an impact on me as Mary Beth Evans has. My great fondness for Mary Beth stands the test of time. I remember the first time I saw Mary Beth. I didn't know who she was. I had no clue. I just saw a lady walking next to a fellow who wore a patch, and I thought that was different, so I kept watching. Within minutes, there was an explosion and those two were trapped inside some lab. That was in May, 1987. Needless to say, I kept watching. I didn't only watch, actually. I was consumed by the story. It wasn't long before I realized I'd been hooked. But I was delighted to be hooked, let me tell you.
During the many storylines that I watched involving Steve and Kayla over the years, there would at points be flashbacks of the pair. I always wished that I had been witness to their love story from the beginning, but that hadn't been the case. I'd missed their meeting, their "getting to know you" scenes.
It was not until I wrote an e-mail to someone I'd never heard of...someone named Alison...that I got my chance to see their courtship from the beginning. It was through her, and later, Joyce, that I saw my favorite Steve and Kayla scene. My favorite scene involving Kayla has to be the "Kayla's drunk" scene. I've pondered this for some time. It isn't easy to pick just one scene, after all. There are so many wonderful moments that Steve and Kayla shared. But the drunk scene made me laugh and it makes me laugh every time I see it. That scene has its own unique charm. It's filled with humor, fun, and vulnerability. That scene contained everything that makes a scene memorable, and when I ask about memories of Steve and Kayla, this is one scene that often comes up fondly in people's minds.
Those of us who were lucky enough to have seen Steve and Kayla, to have experienced their love story, to know about the remarkable friendship that sprung up between Mary Beth and Stephen, were fortunate indeed.
From: Becky
I had been watching Days of Our lives since 1986, and Steve and Kayla were my favorite couple. I had been going through a rough time - divorce, becoming disabled with arthritis - and spending each weekday with Mary Beth and Stephen really helped me get through some rough times. They gave me something to look forward to. I decided to write to Mary Beth and tell her. A few weeks later I receiveda photo and a note telling me how sweet my letter was. I had assumed that Mary Beth was a very nice person, but her taking the time to let me know that she actually read my letter meant a lot. I'll never forget it. I think she must be just as sweet as Steve Johnson's "Sweetness."
From: Cathy
Many years ago I went to a charity event in Cupertino CA at the Flint Center. Richard Biggs Wally Kurth and Matt Ashford were there with Mary Beth. She was pregnant with her second child. As a matter of fact she had just found out and announced it to us. What touched me is her true beauty inside and out, her personality is out of this world. My favorite thing at this event was when Wally played the song The Rose as Mary Beth signed to it , and you could see the tears in her eyes. This event of course was for the hearing impaired.
From: Liz
I first became a fan of Mary Beth's when she was on Days of our Lives as Kayla Brady. Kayla was such a nice person, but she wasnt so "sickeningly sweet" or self righteous; she just seemed like the girl next door with out of this world adventures- you could always relate to her. Mary Beth plays all her scenes with such subtle power, such ease... She doesn't need to overact or eat the scenery. She has a natural way of making us feel what her characters feel. She can make my heart break when her character cries, or make me laugh out loud when her characters get into funny situations...her delivery is always on the mark.
Katherine had her flaws and made mistakes (and was written inconsistently), but Mary Beth always got to the core of her character's vulnerability, no matter what the story. So many times Kat would mess up her own life, she'd sink low, and I would be peering through my fingers to see what she was going to do...how she would handle things. I loved her scheming despite myself. I'd rub my hands together and squeal when she would tell people off the way they needed to be told off.
No matter who she's in a scene with, or what the scene calls for, Mary Beth is unforgettable with her always graceful and vibrant presence. I have fond memories of watching an episode of Days of our Lives, in which Kayla got drunk, with my grandmother. I kept the episode on tape and we would just CRACK up every time we saw it! I dont think I have EVER seen anything funnier on television than the Kayla getting drunk episode. From pinching Steve's butt (my grandma would just cackle when she saw that), to the striptease, to "pinkies are cold"...what a classic, show and memorable performance. Then there was the rape storyline, and the deaf storyline, where my heart broke and I bawled with Kayla --and was inspired by her amazing courage. Mary Beth made me forget this was an actress playing a role; she got me so into those storylines that I felt like I knew Kayla and rooted for her on a personal level. On As The World Turns, she made us forget that another actress ever played Sierra, just as she did with the character of Kayla on Days.
In person I had the great privilege of seeing Mary Beth on stage in "Love Letters" and "All This and Moonlight". I was simply awed by her stage presence. I also met her at some fan events, and she was so gracious, open and friendly.
From: Phyllis
One of my favorite Mary Beth storylines was Emily and Gideon from Days, particularly the scenes that were filmed in Charleston. She was so expressive--the pain of her loss, the joy at finding Gideon, her determination to free him from prison was all there on her face and in her body language. It broke my heart to see them standing in the pouring rain trying to be brave as he was about to be shot. Bravura performance!
From: Thomasine
I remember the first time I saw her on TV. It was during her "Days Of Our Lives" stint as Kayla and it was at the beginning of her and Steve's love story. I thought that she was very pretty and that she was talented but most of all she could capture the audience just with her smile. To me she always seem radiant and energetic no matter what role she's playing. And another reason why I like her is because she doesn't seem superficial or some kind of drama queen like some of the daytime divas. She seems easy going and genuinely kind. And from all of the nice responses from her co-stars I truly believe she is.
From: Andrea
The first time I saw MaryBeth was in a scene with Patch. I began to cry after that scene. From then on I was hooked not on the couple everybody was talking about, Bo and Hope but on an ordinary man in leather and a sweet nurse. From the drunk scene to the deaf storyline Mary Beth brought Kayla to life and made the audience feel for her character. I will never forget those scenes in the hospital after Kayla lost her hearing. Mary Beth's performance without words was one of my favorites. From Kayla's eyes looking up at Steve for some kind of answer to Kayla and Steve dancing up on the roof to nothing but the empty sound of silence. Mary Beth truly made me feel how it was to be deaf. I have been following her acting ever since.
From: Stefanie
My first exposure to Stephen and Mary Beth was the scene when Katherine and Stefan first kissed on General Hospital. At the time, I was working for a real estate company and I was always really bored there. On a break from work, I went to the breakroom to watch tv. I happened to be flipping through the channels and I caught GH and I saw this beautiful lady with ultra blond hair and a very attractive looking man being really intense with one another. I loved the way they looked at each other, the intensity was amazing. When I saw Stefan run and kiss Katherine passionately on the lips, I was hooked. I thought, I’m definetly going to start taping this show. I was also mad that I could not watch that kiss again. I was left hanging and I wanted more.
After joining TCT, I got Patch and Kayla tapes from another fan. I was completely fascinated!! This couple has hooked me after only one scene!! All I had to do was watch the very first initial scene and they blew every other couple I had ever loved in soaps out of the water. Other couples were no competition. I had been watching soaps for seven years and liked several different couples but I did not discover the quintessential couple until 7 years into my soap viewing. I started watching soaps in 1990 and I didn’t get my first Steve and Kayla tape until 1997. It was like I was falling in love with something completely new and wonderful. I was holed up in my room and I'd come out for snack breaks in this wonderful mood. I was really amazed by how different Steve and Kayla were in comparison to Stefan and Kat. I loved the way Patch would look at Kayla. I have to say that the number one thing that draws me into liking a particular soap couple is the kind of looks that go on between the two and how good the actors are at conveying the tenderness and Stephen and Mary Beth could do this very well. It was very believable to me that Steve and Kayla would be in love.
I could probably ramble on for several more pages but I will leave it at that. I continue to be amazed by Stephen and Mary Beth. Even though I’ve never met them personally, I already have complete faith that they are as wonderful as others have said they are.
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