'Tea at Five' captures Hepburn’s rise

By JULIE McHALE - TimeOut Theater Critic	October 19, 2009

Katharine Hepburn is an icon of sorts, winning four Academy Awards for best actress, but perhaps is best remembered for her many movies made with Spencer Tracy and the mystery that surrounded their relationship. In Tandem’s one-woman show starring the stellar Angela Ianonne was written by Matthew Lombardo, who shares her birthplace as a native of Connecticut. "Tea at Five" capsulizes the life and personality of this film legend. The play is written in two acts and covers some of the major events of Hepburn’s life (1907-2003) beginning when she was 30 and trying desperately to land the role of Scarlet O’Hara in "Gone with the Wind," to her retirement years when she was battling Parkinson’s disease. She was often characterized as cantankerous, a reputation she admits she deserved, but in her monologue, she also lifts the veil of privacy that surrounded her life, and we see much more than the tabloids reported. The play is set in her parents’ home in Hartford, Conn., a haven she often returned to when she needed solace and comfort. Personal tragedy struck when she was 13, which motivated her toward achieving success. She also loved attention and believed that being a performer would satisfy that need. Her early years on stage were difficult ones, but eventually she began to be noticed in films. Her whole career was a pendulum swing of highs and lows. Often she was fired for being difficult or not talented enough. How ironic in view of her reputation now. Ianonne captures Hepburn’s distinctive accent and body movements, her flareups, her pain, her sense of humor, her philosophy and her candor, especially in Act 2 as she aged, one could almost believe that Hepburn herself was talking to us. The script is crisp and witty, but also moving. Ianonne flows through the gamut of emotions and seems totally enmeshed in the role. From her tirades on the phone to her palsy as she drinks her daily tea at five, she is authentic. The ending is perfect as she answers Warren Beatty’s call to make one more movie, her last. She was a risk taker and a splendid actor. The show runs through Oct. 25. Chris Flieller’s astute direction and appealing set design, and Angela Iannone’s superb acting are two good reasons to go. Call (414) 271-1371 for times and tickets.