Tea at Five

By: Matthew Lombardo

Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew

Joins us for a cup of tea, won't you? Katharine Hepburn beckons us into her Connecticut home for a cozy chat and an intimate look at the legend, and the woman behind the legend. Based on the critically acclaimed New York production, the independent, intelligent, feisty Hepburn comes alive once again when Kate Mulgrew, of Star Trek: Voyager fame, slips deftly into the voice and being of the famous actress.

The tale opens in 1938 when the 31-year-old Hepburn is five years beyond her first Oscar-winning successes. In the middle of a career slump after a series of movie flops, she waits by the phone to hear whether she nailed the part of Scarlett in a film called Gone With the Wind. The story moves to 1983, when Parkinson's disease has left her voice shaking, her hand clutching a cane, but her eyes still shining with intelligence, wit and the wisdom that informs a long life lived to the fullest. Tea at Five touches on Hepburn's turbulent childhood, her 15 year-old brother's suicide, and her 27-year affair with Spencer Tracy.

©2002 Matthew Lombardo (P)2003 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Mulgrew is great as Kate!" (New York Post)

Amazing portrayal!

Kate Mulgrew’s one woman play about Katharine Hepburn with appropriate stage directions. She channels Hepburn. An amazing step back to two points in Hepburn’s life. Candid and honest. I enjoyed it very much and wish I could have seen it on stage.

Mulgrew Is Tops as Hepburn

Love Kate Mulgrew as Katharine Hepburn in Matthew Lombardo's THIN playlette. The pleasure is all in the performance, and Mulgrew IS a pleasure and MAKES this otherwise lean piece worthwhile.

Mulgrew delivers mastery

Kate Mulgrew transformed into Katherine Hepburn in this storytelling. Is there anything she can't do?

mulgrew rides again.

absolutely loved it. kate mulgrew is incredible, transporting the listener. A must listen for katherine hepburn fans.

Such talent

I loved it! Kate Mulgrew did an amazing job!
As for Katharine Hepburn - EPIC!

One of the best.

Wonderfully done! Well written and very well narrated. Love to hear more like this.

Fun, Fun and Fun.

What did you love best about Tea at Five?

It's like a radio play.

What did you like best about this story?

To short, I wanted more.

What does Kate Mulgrew bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She sounds like like Kate and makes it seem like you are right there in the room with Kate.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Those damn Cattalillies are still blooming.

Any additional comments?

Just a really fun time listening to this play. Have heard it twice now.

Incredible Performance!

I've just been transported to Katherine Hepburn's home for Tea at Five! Kate Mulgrew's performance was, dare I say it...even better than Cate Blanchett's in The Aviator! She nailed it in all the right places. The story was beautifully written, culminating in a successful meshing of all the major aspects of Hepburn's life. Ranging from strong, desperate, funny, sad, personal and real (with Hepburn's fully dramatic real personality)! I very much enjoyed this play and would recommend it to anyone who loves Katherine Hepburn. I know I'll be listening to this one many times! Bravo, Kate Mulgrew! You are an amazing & talented actor and I only wish I could see you perform this on the stage!

Completely Fabulous

Kate Mulgrew does an outstanding job in this two act play ... Listening to it I believed Katharine Hepburn really was across from me having tea. Wonderful!

Kate Mulgrew plays Katherine Hepburn to a T

Kate Mulgrew plays Katherine Hepburn to a T in Tea at Five in this sad angry look at the actress live in a short play/ audio book. Too bad they could have looked some of the many wonderful and positive things about the woman.