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Tea at Five  By  cover art

Tea at Five

By: Matthew Lombardo
Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
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Publisher's summary

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)

What listeners say about Tea at Five

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

MULGREW UNLEASHES HER INNER HEPBURN

I didn't have the joy of seeing "Tea At Five". However, experiencing it in this format is surreal. Being Southern, I love great storytellers. Kate Mulgrew steps aside and lets Ms. Hepburn have her say. It's the best 1 hour and 11 minutes you could ever spend having a story told to you in a way that makes you feel like you're living it with her. I highly recommend checking out Ms. Hepburn's memoir "Me". It's a wonderful companion to "Tea At Five". Beyond Five Stars!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Kate As Kate

First, let me say that Kate Mulgrew is absolutely fantastic as Katherine Hepburn. No better actress could have been found to embody the voice and character of Katherine Hepburn -- arguably one of the finest actresses of her generation and a true American icon. Secondly, I just love the whole conversational tone of this recording. You actually envision Kate Hepburn saying these things. This is a great recording for fans of either Kate.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Kate Does Kate Great

This marks my first book purchased from audible.com. Needless to day I was very pleased. Kate Mulgrew is MIRACULOUS. Yes she does Hepburn's voice...yes she is consistent and believeable; but it is her delivery which leads you to believe you are sitting in the living room of Ms. Hepburn herself. Very enjoyable.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

I can not remember when I have enjoyed a narrative more! Having been a lifelong Hepburn fan I was expecting the usual information. What a surprise! Kate does Kate very well and captured that famous spunk! The insights gleaned here make it much easier to understand why Miss Hepburn did what she did through her never a dull moment life.
Don't hesitate to get this one...it is one in a million!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best.

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

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

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.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Kate Mulgrew - NOT!!!

I'm sorry I thought Kate Mulgrew was absolutely awful especialy as the young Hepburn - Hepburn did not have a Southern accent!!!!! I thought the play was pretty trite stuff too. If you really want to know Hepburn - get the Kate Remembered book by Scott Berg. Not only is the book enthralling, but the reader (a male) does a better Hepburn than Mulgrew.

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