Tea At Five Boston Reviews- Page 2

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/30/19 at 8:13pm

In the abstract, a play that the subject would not like would be considered a good thing. I realize there is nothing abstract about this play...

[David10086]

Posted: 6/30/19 at 9:02pm

Interesting - or coincidental? - the play opens almost 16 years to the day that Hepburn died (June 29, 2003). 

[msmp]

Posted: 6/30/19 at 9:53pm

Saw the show tonight; Faye definitely still doesnt have all the lines down, and there was an issue with a light being on in the balcony, distracting her enough she broke character twice to ask it be shut off.

But those issues aside I thought she did a decent job, especially with the more emotional scenes about Hepburn's brother and about Spencer Tracy. Not sure this is going to be a successful transfer though. But I dont regret seeing it.

[sndtrklvr]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 5:29pm

Saw it today. I was really surprised at how short it was - just a bit over an hour. Dunaway was very good but is still struggling with her lines throughout. Her stage movements also seem a bit tentative although it can be attributed to Hepburns boot. I don't see how this can transfer well although I certainly enjoyed it (especially since I sat fourth row orchestra with a half price ticket)

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 8:05am

going in a few days - specifically going to see this - curious if Ms Dunaway has learned all her lines yet?

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 9:05pm

I saw online that the show was cancelled tonight.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 9:19pm

I see tweets from someone earlier today, saying that they delayed opening the doors because an alarm messed up the sound system. Guessing that was the matinee, but why cancel one of the last performances with no explanation....

Not gonna lie, my selfish side wishes this was more of a dumpster-fire than just a mediocre letdown. At least then it would be interesting to discuss, imo.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 7/10/19 at 11:45pm

why do I think the she wont finish her last few performances?

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 1:47pm

I just found this review which shreds the whole thing. Sounds likes a mess all around. People won't pay Broadway prices for a mediocre hour with Faye. I'm still sad that she wasn't given new work, possibly an ensemble piece to return to Broadway. Then again finding an ensemble to work with her might be a tall order. 

https://artsfuse.org/185971/theater-review-tea-at-five-doesnt-deserve-faye-dunaway/

 

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 1:48pm

Anyone receive word on WHY they cancelled last night's performance and are the remaining 4 Performances still on?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 2:21pm

VernonGersch said: "Anyone receive word on WHY they cancelled last night's performance and are the remaining 4 Performances still on?"

No idea, but I wonder if sales have to do with it? The last four shows, the mezzanine isn't on sale and the orchestra is 1/3 sold, 1/2 sold on the better days. That's pretty embarrassing. 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 2:28pm

Bettyboy72 said: "I just found this review which shreds the whole thing. Sounds likes a mess all around. People won't pay Broadway prices for a mediocre hour with Faye. I'm still sad that she wasn't given new work, possibly an ensemble piece to return to Broadway. Then again finding an ensemble to work with her might be a tall order.

https://artsfuse.org/185971/theater-review-tea-at-five-doesnt-deserve-faye-dunaway/

"

That review is MUCH kinder to her performance than she deserves. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 2:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Bettyboy72 said: "I just found this review which shreds the whole thing. Sounds likes a mess all around. People won't pay Broadway prices for a mediocre hour with Faye. I'm still sad that she wasn't given new work, possibly an ensemble piece to return to Broadway. Then again finding an ensemble to work with her might be a tall order.

https://artsfuse.org/185971/theater-review-tea-at-five-doesnt-deserve-faye-dunaway/

"That review is MUCH kinder to her performance than she deserves."

True, but I think there is truth in that she deserves much better material. It's actually sad that if she is considering this, what are her actual options?

 

[David10086]

Posted: 7/11/19 at 10:25pm

This might be slightly off, but I have a question...

Many are saying she chose this for her return to B'way after a 37 year absence. However, wasn't she actually counting on 'Sunset Boulevard' back in 1994 to make her return to B'way? If I remember correctly, her deal with ALW was to replace Glenn Close in LA in 1994, and then to replace her again on B'way when Close was to leave in 1995. Not that it mattered in the end since she never got to take the stage anywhere, but wasn't she counting on that 24 years ago to make her B'way return? 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/12/19 at 10:18am

Regardless of whether or not she was intended to replace Close in SUNSET BLVD., if this makes it to Broadway -- and that's a big "if" at this point -- it will be her Broadway return. There isn't anything inaccurate about that statement.

I seem to recall hearing that after opening the MASTER CLASS tour, Dunaway intended to go into the play on Broadway, but it closed before she did. That could just be faulty memory on my part, though.

[JRwriter]

Posted: 7/12/19 at 2:12pm

I was looking forward to seeing it this week, on the 10th, but the 7:30pm performance was canceled at 7:20pm. Haven't heard any reason why yet. 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 11:32am

“I think it’s total concentration, isn’t it? I think you just don’t feel things like that if you’re totally concentrated. I did Much Ado on tour with 102 degrees fever every time I started. I couldn’t get rid of it. But that’s how you can play when you’re sick. And if you are a big star and don’t play, it’s an enormous disappointment to the audience.” - Katharine Hepburn, 1973

[JRwriter]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 12:23pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I see tweets from someone earlier today, saying that they delayed opening the doors because an alarm messed up the sound system. Guessing that was the matinee, but why cancel one of the last performances with no explanation....

Not gonna lie, my selfish side wishes this was more of a dumpster-fire than just a mediocre letdown. At least then it would be interesting to discuss, imo."

That's what they told us as we waited in the lobby - something about a fire alarm at the Mat. I don't know how that would be an issue at the evening show, and if it were, they had time to email people and let them know not to make the  rush-hour trek into Boston.  It was going to be a small house. There were just over a hundred people in the lobby, and not many waiting outside. Personally - I think Ms. Dunaway had a hissy fit. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/13/19 at 3:16pm

Well the final shows are sold just as poorly, maybe a third of the orchestra if that. Sounds like this is DOA unless producers have money to burn. Clearly there is no interest in this property or its faded star. Lombardo is onto his next project with Beth Leavel and has left Boston. Seems like he's done too. 

 

[Comeback06]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 4:42pm

Did they cancel the last weekend of performances?   I can't find any information - anywhere.

[JRwriter]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 5:07pm

Dollypop said: "Perhaps 30 years ago, I was teaching high school English and moderating the schoo's newspaper. We had secured an interview with an Off-Broadway actor who had done a TV series that had a cult following.

In the course of the interview, the actor spoke of a movie he'd done with Dunaway and what a miserable experience it was. He said she was impossible to work with and felt she really needed "professional help".

On the train ride home, the newspaper staff and I decided not to use that information in the article because it was so harsh and because we couldn't get other witnesses who could back up the actor's comments about Dunaway.

The next day the actor called me and asked if we could omit his words about Dunaway. He breathed a sigh of relief when he learned we'd already done so."

Go to Youtube, search "Bette Davis, Faye Dunaway, Johnny Carson" and you see Bette on the tonight show, who opens up on Faye with no holds barred after shooting a movie with her.  Carson asks who was the most difficult person she ever worked with (expecting Davis to respond with Joan Crawford I would bet), and without a pause she answers "Fay Dunaway. Put anyone in Hollywood in this chair and they'll tell you the same thing."  Ms. Davis didn't mince words!

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 5:14pm

Well, I would be shocked if we ever hear about this production again after today.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 6:51pm

I caught he show and while my expectations were exceedingly low - I was pleasantly surprised and actually quite impressed -and moved -  by the show and Faye's performance. 

I would recommend the show to almost anyone.  Really enjoyed it 

[JRwriter]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 7:27pm

VernonGersch said: "I caught he show and while my expectations were exceedingly low - I was pleasantly surprised and actually quite impressed -and moved -by the show and Faye's performance.

I would recommend the show to almost anyone. Really enjoyed it"

Glad you got to see it! Did she have her lines down better than earlier performances? Maybe the cancelation on Wed, nite was a wake up call. Unfortunately, that was the night I had tickets for, When did you go, and how big was the house? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/14/19 at 8:23pm

The last shows this week were hardly sold at all.