Check the listing for details. Deborah Kerr "TEA and SYMPATHY" John Kerr / Leif Erickson 1953 Tryout Broadside. Listed at 19.99 USD. This is a rare September 9th, 1953 broadside (single page playbill) from the four-night, Pre-Broadway engagement of the ROBERT ANDERSON play "TEA AND SYMPATHY" at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. (The production would open September 30th, 1953 at New York's Ethel Barrymore Theatre, move to the Longacre Theatre on February 9th, 1955 and finally the 48th Street Theatre on April 11th, 1955, running for 712 performances.) ..... The play is about a male private school student, Tom Lee, who faces accusations of homosexuality. A woman, Laura, who is married to one of the school's instructors, opposes the students' shaming of Lee and romantically pursues him. Everett Evans of the Houston Chronicle wrote that the play was "one of the first plays to tackle the then-taboo subject 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. (Wikipedia) ..... The play starred DEBORAH KERR as "Laura" and featured JOHN KERR (Tony Award winner) as "Tom Lee". Others in the cast included LEIF ERICKSON, FLORIDA FRIEBUS, RICHARD MIDGLEY, ALAN SUES, DICK YORK, ARTHUR STEUER, RICHARD FRANCHOT, JOHN McGOVERN and YALE WEXLER ..... CREDITS: Book by ROBERT ANDERSON; Sets designed by JO MIELZINER; Costumes designed by ANNA HILL JOHNSTONE; Directed by ELIA KAZAN; Produced by THE PLAYWRIGHTS' COMPANY (Maxwell Anderson, Robert Anderson, Elmer Rice, Robert E. Sherwood, Roger L. Stevens and John F. Wharton) in association with MARY K. FRANK ..... DETAILS: The single page, one-sided playbill measures 5 7/8" X 9 1/4" inches and includes full production credits, cast list and synopsis of scenes, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a fold across the middle and a light corner crease, this playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.