Review: 'Tea at Five' at Connecticut Cabaret Theatre and Performing Arts Center

Photo of Kelly Boucher as Katherine Hepburn in 'Tea at Five' by Stu Kelly

“If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun.” - Katharine Hepburn

Berlin, CT - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre & Performing Arts Center closes their season with a mesmerizing production of ‘Tea at Five,’ a one-woman show that recounts the journey of Katharine Hepburn from a Connecticut childhood in Hartford to winner of four Oscars. The fabulously talented Kelly Boucher brings the fiery spirit of Ms. Hepburn to life under the direction of the cabaret theatre’s owner and artistic director Kris McMurray.

Ms. Boucher, an Ellington resident, studied at The Shakespeare Theatre, The Neighborhood Playhouse, and The Actor’s Studio MFA Program. She is a graduate of Temple University and Eastern CT State University. At the CCT she played Joanne in ‘Vanities,’ Sylvia in ‘Sylvia,’ Louise in ‘The Underpants,’ as well as headlining the one-woman plays ‘Shirley Valentine’ and ‘The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe.’ Therefore, ‘Tea at Five’ marks the actress’ third one-woman show at this venue and it is a tour de force.

The author of ‘Tea at Five’ is CT native Matthew Lombardo. He is now a New York based playwright whose work has earned him national recognition; his work has been produced at The Shubert Theatre in Boston and Hartford Stage. Broadway credits include ‘High’ starring Kathleen Turner and ‘Looped’ starring Valerie Harper and he received an IRNE Award for Best Solo Play for ‘Tea at Five.’

The play is billed as a comedy and there was plenty of laughing on opening night, although there were also some more somber stretches of dialogue that gave us insight into the life experiences that shaped this complex woman. The actress reflects aloud on the highs and lows of her well-heeled upbringing in Hartford, her adventures in show business, and of course her heartbreaking 25-year romance with Spencer Tracy. At various points in her monologue, some audience members reacted aloud to the events and opinions that she described.

Photos of Kelly Boucher as Katharine Hepburn in 'Tea at Five' by Stu Kelly

Mr. McMurray makes sure that once the character of a young Ms. Hepburn enters the stage she absolutely never leaves until she ages 45 years for the second act. It is during the second act set in February of 1983 when Ms. Boucher channels the actress in her later years as I remember her and her performance was a brilliant one.

I certainly learned a lot about this beloved lady of another era. I had no idea that at one point she lived next to Stephen Sondheim as he was writing ‘Company,’ or that the Hepburn family had a history of suicide. This was not a sentimental look at the life of this icon, but it was definitely a fascinating one.

James Moran was in charge of the technical design that brought us to the living room of Ms. Hepburn’s home in Fenwick CT, a section of Old Saybrook. Mr. Moran came onstage with stage manager Linda Kelly during intermission to make the room age the 45 years that had passed. The two costumes were definitely things that the actress would have chosen to wear at these two points in her life, and the wigs could not have been better at remembering the iconic hairstyles of Ms. Hepburn.

Two for tea? And one ticket is free! Special offer for the opening weekend of Tea at Five: Buy one ticket & get one free! You and a friend can spend an entertaining evening with the brilliant Kelly Boucher as Katharine Hepburn... at a fabulous price. Call & reserve your tickets now at 860 829 1248 Connecticut Cabaret Theatre & Performing Arts Center