Tovah In 'Tea At Five' - Tasty Yet Under Brewed

(Photo Courtesy Of Broward Center)

I absolutely loved and adored Katharine Hepburn, the subject of the one woman play TEA AT FIVE. She was remarkable as an actress and even more astonishing as a woman, a leader, a feminist, an activist and all around caring and passionate human being.

Tovah Felshuh is a great actress. She has awards and nominations all over the place for her performances and even drew accolades last year when she starred in the musical, HELLO DOLLY! I first became enamored of her when she starred on Broadway in YENTL decades ago.

I am surprised and confused that I have mixed feelings about the show tonight at the Parker Playhouse. I certainly find the subject matter, Katharine Hepburn, absolutely riveting and the actress playing her is one of the greats of her generation. However, for me, this 'tea' needed more sugar, milk and perhaps a squeeze of lemon.

Katharine Hepburn's life was so fascinating and glorious that there have been many books written about her, some she wrote herself. In the last decades of her life, Scott Berg became her 'official biographer' and spent time living with Hepburn. It was agreed he would release a book about her, KATE REMEMBERED, two weeks after her death.

Yes, Hepburn was a woman always thinking; about things past, present, and even in the future. Her life was a captivating one from the earliest years, with her ultra liberal and forward thinking parents and privileged upbringing. The suicide of her brother Tom when they were both children, likely affected Katharine Hepburn her entire life. Yet she proceeded with a life full of fabulous triumphs, magnificent stardom, incredible real life characters and always maintained her very special style and staunch independence.

Those unfamiliar with many details of Hepburn's life will have their knowledge greatly increased via TEA AT FIVE. Likewise, those of us who have 'experienced' her life in the news media or in the many books about her will not find much or anything new about the four time Oscar winner. Many things we expect, are indeed discussed in the play. Her almost 30 year relationship with Spencer Tracy, a trifle about Howard Hughes, her wanting to play Scarlett in GONE WITH THE WIND, the Broadway musical COCO, and of course, many other things in her incredibly rich life.

I found myself disappointed at the things in Hepburn's life left out of the play. Matthew Lombardo is a fine writer. However, I am not sure he chose Hepburn happenings in the best fashion. Her life was chock full of excitement and enchantment, neither of which is achieved in TEA AT FIVE.

Director John Tillinger, while certainly doing a fully proficient job, is never able to make this play 'take off.' Be assured, I enjoyed this evening of theater. I suspect the Hepburn that I have come to know and love would have proclaimed the play, boring. 

Tovah Feldshuh does not particularly look like Hepburn and does not do a voice imitation of her. Her speech certainly alludes to the wonderful way Hepburn spoke without doing a 'Rich Little' impersonation of her. For most of the play, Feldshuh is playing Hepburn in her 80s, and the wig, makeup, lighting and costume talents make the illusion quite fine indeed. Tovah Feldshuh is a consummate actress and it was lovely being in the theater with her. The audience gave her a heartfelt standing ovation at evening's end. I must report that Tovah as Katharine Hepburn did not create the magic I had hoped for.

The proceedings are not helped by the set provided by Tony Straiges. Frankly, it gets a bit tedious after a while. It also never captures the grandeur and warmth that Hepburn's home, Fenwick, truly had.

TEA AT FIVE was a very nice time at the theater. It left me wanting more. To satisfy that want, I shall watch Hepburn's four Oscar winning performances this weekend. She won for the films MORNING GLORY, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, THE LION IN WINTER, and ON GOLDEN POND. Perhaps that is the best way to celebrate the life of this sensational woman who once graced our planet. The final performance of TEA AT FIVE at the Parker Playhouse is January 13.

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