Hay FeverThe Mill at SonningUntil May 130118 969 8000www.millatsonning.com
If ever we invite visitors to stay for the weekend, we would like to think we would be good hosts – ensuring our guests are well looked after and put at ease.
Noel Coward’s play Hay Fever shows what happens when the bohemian Bliss family do exactly the opposite.
Inspired by a family Coward regularly visited while in America, retired actress Judith Bliss (Issy van Randwyck), her novelist husband David (Nick Waring) and grown-up children Sorel and Simon (Emily Banes and William Pennington) subject their guests to scorn, ridicule and neglect, while simultaneously airing their familial dirty laundry in the most voluble way possible.
The guests, most of whom are not acquainted, are left to navigate this minefield while causing the least amount of offense to their hosts.
Jackie Coryton is superb as the shy, insecure Beth Lilly, Aretha Ayeh enjoys every moment of portraying the charismatic socialite Myra Arundel.
Richard Greatham (Darrell Brockis), having been invited to stay by the daughter, is seduced by the mother while prim and proper Sandy Tyrell (Daniel Fraser), having been invited to stay by the mother is then seduced by the daughter.
Somehow managing to keep her head above water is huffy housekeeper Clara (Joanna Brooks), once dresser to Judith, now struggling in this alternative role.
The grand piano centre stage is no mere prop. At various points during the play cast members, mostly Sorel and Simon, accompany the proceedings with dramatically appropriate musical accompaniment.
A trombone, played with flair by Pennington, also makes an appearance.
Very much of its time, Hay Fever is an enjoyable trip back to a very different era.
The costume designers excelled themselves with the bright array of flapper dresses and the set and scenery are as stunning as ever.
Although not a laugh-out-loud comedy there are a great deal of amusing moments and attention to detail to keep the audience entertained.
It’s a shame the same couldn’t be said for the Bliss’ poor guests.
JUDITH CREIGHTON
