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Tea and Sympathy (play)

First edition
(publ. Random House)

Tea and Sympathy is a 1953 stage play in three acts by Robert Anderson about a male private school student, Tom Lee, who faces accusations of homosexuality. A woman, Laura, who is married to an instructor, opposes the students' shaming of Lee and romantically pursues him so he can prove that he has a masculine character.[1] The title refers to what someone in Laura's position was supposed to offer a boy such as Tom.

Everett Evans of the Houston Chronicle called it "one of the first plays to tackle the then-taboo topic of sexual orientation and related prejudice." Evans stated that the play's final line, "Years from now, when you speak of this, and you will, be kind," is "one of the most quoted curtain lines in stage history".[2]

  1. ^ Thomas, Bob (May 17, 1956). "Deborah Kerr Signs For Unusual Role". Associated Press at the Milwaukee Sentinel. Part 2, Page 15. Retrieved November 8, 2013.[dead link]
  2. ^ Evans, Everett (August 7, 2013). "Sensitive 'Tea and Sympathy' teaches lesson of acceptance." Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
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