Erika MacDonald in Tea Time at Orlando Fringe Credit: Courtesy Photo

Erika MacDonald: Tea Time is a funny, strange and unexpectedly moving solo show that turns tea into a full emotional love language. Erika MacDonald builds her performance through audience interaction, repeated phrases, music and a lot of ritual around making/serving tea. The piece feels both playful and deeply personal. 

What makes Tea Time stand out is how much meaning MacDonald puts behind all the repetition. I’ll admit that I did not understand her quirky phrases in the first half of the show, but they created a rhythm that I slowly started to comprehend. It all comes back to one main idea: tea. In this show, tea is more than a drink; it’s a coping mechanism, a passion, a way to communicate. Toward the end, all the personal tales of tea finally came to a full-circle moment, clearly stating a vulnerable and deeply emotional point. 

MacDonald’s anecdotes about mental health, her relationship with tea and all the silly metaphors connect together in a careful manner. This is a well-written show with just enough hilarity about the absurdity of life, all communicated through a mutual love of tea. Tea Time is quirky, well-shaped, and genuinely thoughtful, with enough humor to keep the emotional weight from feeling too heavy.

Paul Strickland Presents (Covington, KY)
Savoy
60 minutes; 18 and up
Tickets: $15

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This article appears in Orlando Fringe 2026.