Tea and Sympathy

17-year-old Tom Lee is a misunderstood outcast at a private school for boys. Because he likes music and theatre, he is mistakenly assumed to be gay. Things worsen when classmates see him swimming on the beach with a male teacher, spurring rumors and innuendos. What nobody realizes is that Tom is in love with Laura Reynolds, the wife of a teacher and Tom’s compassionate advocate. When it debuted in 1953, Tea and Sympathy was somewhat ground-breaking as one of the first plays to address homosexuality and homophobia. Though somewhat dated by modern standards, its themes of persecution and being an outsider remain relevant. It has an emotional, nuanced role for a younger male actor and encourages conversation about persecution, double standards, and perceptions of masculinity.