HAY FEVER.

Tour

HAY FEVER
by Noel Coward

Oxford Stage Company on tour To 6 July 2002
Runs 2hr 30min Two intervals
Review Timothy Ramsden 5 July at Oxford Playhouse

Sparklingly invigorating approach, strongly performed, gives an old play a new lease of life.Here's a production gaining greatly from the hand of a leading British new plays director. It takes nothing for granted in the name of period style, yet responds scrupulously to the script. The result is fresh and funny, and quietly touching in its revelation of individual characters.

Distinguishing between the artistic, self-absorbed Bliss family and the put-upon weekend house guests they individually invite down is the basis for any production – as is the comedy arising from the family's rudeness to every guest except their own individual invitee. Dromgoole goes far beyond this, identifying David Bliss as the novelist-commentator, at times literally standing at the side, laughing at human folly. Yet, when the final scene brings criticism of his new manuscript, he's in there with the worst of them, angrily defending the honour of his text.

Sally Bretton's excellent Sorrel is clearly daddy's girl, fondly smiling at his wise words, appreciative even when agreeing his new novel has mucked up Parisian geography. Sorrel is the nearest thing to sanity in the family, often enough lamenting the chaos of their creative indulgences, yet able to join in the spontaneous acting out of mother's last West End hit, the appallingly melodramatic Love's Whirlwind.

There's similar distinction between the guests, summed up as they creep wretchedly down to serve themselves Sunday morning breakfast. Needless to say, the food's ready for serving in dishes with burningly hot lids. Both Oliver Boot's infatuated boxer and Laura Rogers' naïve ingenue – who goes on to show a flicker of mischief herself when not overshadowed by the experts - fling the lid across the room in agony. Yet John Dougall's consummate diplomat puts it down, internalising his agony, which leaks out only in a pained facial expression. This man clearly knows how to lie for his country abroad. And Lisa Stevenson's confident vamp knows the score, using a cloth to save her fingers.

Add Katharine Barker's all-purpose servant, less fussy than many in the role, but no less funny in her practised restraint, and the play comes up – if you'll believe it of a well-worn Coward classic - as new.

Sorel Bliss: Sally Bretton
Simon Bliss: Simon Quarterman
Clara: Katharine Barker
Judith Bliss: Sally Edwards
David Bliss: Robert Langdon Lloyd
Sandy Tyrell: Oliver Boot
Myra Arundel: Lisa Stevenson
Richard Greatham: John Dougall
Jackie Coryton: Laura Rogers

Director: Dominic Dromgoole
Designer: Jonathan Fensom
Lighting: Matthew Eagland

2002-07-12 11:32:55