The Bachelors’ Tea Party
Jody Flader. Photos by Carrie Leonard
This perverse take on a child’s tea party explores the real-life relationship of Elsie de Wolfe (Lady Mendl) and Bessie Marbury, who lived together and referred to themselves as “The Bachelors” in the first years of the 20th century. Special guests include Oscar Wilde, Cole Porter, and others, all drawn from the bachelors’ real life and all “performed” by dolls. Originally produced at the historic Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon in New York.
A surreal society comedy performed by two actors and four dolls.
Jody Flader and Liz Eckert
“Jody Flader and Liz Eckert impress as interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe and theatrical agent Bessie Marbury, feminist pioneers and self-described New York “bachelors” who lived together during the early 20th century, in Kiran Rikhye’s absurd light comedy. Cleverly staged, [a[ dainty show” -Brandon Voss, The Advocate (The Advocate’s “Top Ten Off-Broadway”)
“This is time travel in the best possible way; You step into a room, the waiter serves you tea, 120 years evaporate, and right next to you, just feet away, are a pair of ladies about to change the world, and the crazy thing is, they do! Right in front of you. What actually happened is happening again; I was entranced.” -Robert Krulwich, Co-host of RadioLab on NPR
“Ingenious…outrageously perfect” -Tamas Vilaghy, New York Times’ Local East Village
“As much of an event as a play” -Clifford Lee Johnson III, Backstage
“[C[harming, witty, and extremely interesting"“ -Martin Denton, NYTheatre.com
“As provocative as the high tea was romantic"“ -Dorothy Chansky, Theatre Journal
Liz Eckert and Jody Flader. Costumes by Julie B. Schworm