Tea at Five [Abridged, Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Matthew Lombardo (Author), Kate Mulgrew (Performer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2003

Kate Mulgrew as Katharine Hepburn in TEA AT FIVE has won standing ovations at each performance. The independent, intelligent, feisty Hepburn comes alive when Mulgrew slips deftly into the voice and being of the famous actress. The two-act play opens in 1938 when the actress is 31 years old and in the middle of a career slump. She is awaiting a call to see if she has won the part of Scarlet in a film called GONE WITH THE WIND. The story moved to 1983 when Parkinson's disease has left her voice shaking, her hand clutching a cane, but her eyes still shining with intelligence and wit. TEA AT FIVE is an unforgettable trip down Broadway, Hollywood Blvd, and memory lane.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MATTHEW LOMBARDO has written and directed many plays in New York and regionally throughout the U.S. His most recent credits include Mother and Child and Guilty Innoncence, serving both productions as playwright and director. Mr. Lombardo garnered a Writer's Guild Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement. Kate Mulgrew, best known as Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, has been nominated for the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance and the 2003 Lucille Award for Outstanding Actress.

KATE MULGREW, best known as Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, has been nominated for the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance and the 2003 Lucille Award for Outstanding Actress.

From AudioFile

Punctuated by a voice-over informing us of scene changes and other stage details, this production, adapted from the play by the same name, is a real gem in a sea of zirconia. Kate Mulgrew channels Katharine Hepburn almost flawlessly, a near-perfect casting choice that provides listeners with two fast-paced CDs of Hepburn's unique, refreshing, and completely self-centered mind. Sparing no entertaining detail, TEA AT FIVE presents what audiobooks need more of--scintillating performance, inspired writing, and clean recording. While the playwright uses the tool of time, aging Hepburn decades between Acts One and Two, the play is as plainly honest as the great lady herself. D.J.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: HighBridge Company; Abridged edition (September 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565118553
• ISBN-13: 978-1565118553
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous performance, October 24, 2003

By 

catherine bailey (Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tea at Five (Audio CD)

Not a book but a play based on the life of Katherine Hepburn read by Kate Mulgrew. Listening to this 2CD set is the next best thing to seeing Kate Mulgrew perform in public. In 2 parts both taking place in Hepburns living room at her childhood home. The first part when she is about 31 and has left Hollywood after a series of flops she is labelled as 'box office poison'. Mulgrew does the voice extremely well and manages to convey something of the frustration and panic of a performer who is for the first time in a long time 'on the outside looking in'. The second part when Hepburn is in her 70's after her car accident, in effect retired. The voice in this part is even better. A masterful performance, the play paints a picture of a strong, independant woman, with vunerabilities in both her private and personnal life. There are of course omissions and lots of guesswork about her strange relationship with her parents especially her father and brother, but there is only so much you can put in to a two act play. Loved it, and would love to see the play.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kate Mulgrew is wonderful as Kate Hepburn, October 28, 2003

By 

M. Hondtong "moniquehondtong" (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tea at Five (Audio CD)

After seeing Tea 3 times it is wonderful to listen to the audio cd. Kate Mulgrew is in my opinion the most wonderful and talented actress in the world. When you listen to the audio cd it is like you hear Katharine Hepburn. If you love Katharine Hepburn and/or Kate Mulgrew this is definitely highly recommended. Of course seeing Tea at Five in theater is the best experience ever. The audio cd is second best

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can't see the play, a MUST BUY!, May 8, 2005

By 

Jonathan W. Panofsky "Book Lover713" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tea at Five (Audio CD)

I had the EXTREME fortune of seening Kate Mulgrew preform this play in Baltimore, but not before buying the CD. Kate Mulgrew had always been compared to Kate Hepburn. Her voice is amazingly like Hepburns, as her command presence. The first act of this play is amazingly funny you will laugh like crazy. if u can't see the amazing play in person this is a must buy!