Tea And Sympathy
Written By Robert Anderson
Directed by David New
At Stage 773
March-April 2012
Behind the closed doors of a seemingly idyllic boarding school, one boy struggles with what it means to be a man. A woman realizes her marriage has taken a very wrong turn. Drawn together, the two discover the personal cost of trying to fit in as they dance around illicit emotions and head toward a relationship that is much more than an offering of tea and sympathy.
Featuring ensemble members Kate Tummelson, Nick Horst and Katherine Swan, and guest artists Peter Defaria, Andrew Cutler, Kevin Gladish, Steve Wojtas,
Chicago Tribune, Kerry Reid
"One can argue that the real subject is how vicious rumormongering destroys lives...Tummelson is indeed a sympathetic presence...and Cutler makes an auspicious debut as Tom. Kevin Gladish as Tom's well-meaning but clueless dad, Herb, and Nick Horst as Al, Tom's roommate, also deliver strong turns." Chicago Reader, Marissa Oberlander
Reader Recommended and a Members Pick
"For the student, played by a perfectly green and gangly Andrew Cutler, this means proving his masculinity to the resident jocks and his distant father. For the lonely wife,well played with sophisticated sensuality by Kate Tummelson, this means finding her voice in a disintegrating marriage. The situations may be old-fashioned, but bullies are still bullies and puberty is always painful."
The Fourth Walsh, Katy Walsh
Recommended
"The play itself is performed beautifully. Under the direction of David New, dorm life is rambunctious on the fray and heart-wrenching in the center. Tummelson is a steel magnolia. Tummelson poignantly struggles with her designated role of 'understanding bystander.' Powerful! Andrew Culter (Tom) endears going from blissful ignorance to the burden of understanding. The entire talented ensemble is testosterone charged bullies... the believability factor is scary off the charts. Interjecting some female moxie into the boys club, Katherine Swan (Lilly) is hysterical."
Chicago Theatre Beat, JH Palmer
Highly Recommended"The ending is both provocative and refreshing... each time the lights went up I couldn't wait to return to my seat to see more. This is a nuanced story ... and raises questions that are as relevant today as they were in 1953."
The Examiner, Catey Sullivan
Highly Recommended
"Don't be fooled by the understated tone of Tea and Sympathy. The Artistic Home's production of Robert Anderson's 1953 drama packs an intensely delivered emotional punch...it is at once timeless and strikingly timely in its entirety...Director David New clearly understands the toxic power that comes when bigotry merges with mob mentality."
Chicago Critic, Tom Williams
Highly Recommended
Tea and Sympathy is a well-acted, tightly produced and directed drama that deals with questions about the price two people pay as they risk their "ideal" lives in standing up to the norms of the status quo."
Directed by David New
At Stage 773
March-April 2012
Behind the closed doors of a seemingly idyllic boarding school, one boy struggles with what it means to be a man. A woman realizes her marriage has taken a very wrong turn. Drawn together, the two discover the personal cost of trying to fit in as they dance around illicit emotions and head toward a relationship that is much more than an offering of tea and sympathy.
Featuring ensemble members Kate Tummelson, Nick Horst and Katherine Swan, and guest artists Peter Defaria, Andrew Cutler, Kevin Gladish, Steve Wojtas,
Chicago Tribune, Kerry Reid
"One can argue that the real subject is how vicious rumormongering destroys lives...Tummelson is indeed a sympathetic presence...and Cutler makes an auspicious debut as Tom. Kevin Gladish as Tom's well-meaning but clueless dad, Herb, and Nick Horst as Al, Tom's roommate, also deliver strong turns." Chicago Reader, Marissa Oberlander
Reader Recommended and a Members Pick
"For the student, played by a perfectly green and gangly Andrew Cutler, this means proving his masculinity to the resident jocks and his distant father. For the lonely wife,well played with sophisticated sensuality by Kate Tummelson, this means finding her voice in a disintegrating marriage. The situations may be old-fashioned, but bullies are still bullies and puberty is always painful."
The Fourth Walsh, Katy Walsh
Recommended
"The play itself is performed beautifully. Under the direction of David New, dorm life is rambunctious on the fray and heart-wrenching in the center. Tummelson is a steel magnolia. Tummelson poignantly struggles with her designated role of 'understanding bystander.' Powerful! Andrew Culter (Tom) endears going from blissful ignorance to the burden of understanding. The entire talented ensemble is testosterone charged bullies... the believability factor is scary off the charts. Interjecting some female moxie into the boys club, Katherine Swan (Lilly) is hysterical."
Chicago Theatre Beat, JH Palmer
Highly Recommended"The ending is both provocative and refreshing... each time the lights went up I couldn't wait to return to my seat to see more. This is a nuanced story ... and raises questions that are as relevant today as they were in 1953."
The Examiner, Catey Sullivan
Highly Recommended
"Don't be fooled by the understated tone of Tea and Sympathy. The Artistic Home's production of Robert Anderson's 1953 drama packs an intensely delivered emotional punch...it is at once timeless and strikingly timely in its entirety...Director David New clearly understands the toxic power that comes when bigotry merges with mob mentality."
Chicago Critic, Tom Williams
Highly Recommended
Tea and Sympathy is a well-acted, tightly produced and directed drama that deals with questions about the price two people pay as they risk their "ideal" lives in standing up to the norms of the status quo."
