HAY FEVER. To 29 May.

Mold

HAY FEVER
by Noel Coward

Clwyd Theatr Cymru (Anthony Hopkins Theatre) To 29 May 2004
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm

Audio-described 22 May 2.30pm
Captioned 29 May 2.30pm
Talkback 20, 27 May
Runs 2hr 10min One interval

TICKETS: 0845 330 3565
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 May

Good fist at undernourished comedy of bad eggs at home.Hay Fever is about insufferable people. They occupy so much of the foreground it's impossible to believe Coward had any serious dislike for them. But how dislikeable they are. Judith's wearisome mannerisms and concern to see herself in the gossip columns (Bliss indeed is ignorance), her daughter's apparent attempts to be different, none of which lead anywhere (the Sorel and the Pity?), her novelist husband who's main contribution is to be offstage much of the time, and the would-be painter son, who betrays even Christopher Morahan into the crudity of having Simon excavate between his toes in token realism.

The terribly infantile family are finely acted, no doubt, but to see Diane Fletcher as ex-actress Judith Bliss and recall her (some decades ago) in Pam Gems' feminist Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi is a reminder that the most convincing acting's only pretence, after all.

Morahan's an ace director. Given a strong, traditional script like The Winslow Boy he'll produce cracking theatre, as forceful as the best written yesterday. Here, he only has surface elegance to work on. So the production goes for the overblown, with giant posters of Judith's main roles on the wall, and the house reproduced as a designer's set-model perched in various places during the action.

Though Christine Ozanne's tactful as the put-upon maid, the best moments come from the house-guests. Katherine Holme spends a long time being just blank, but makes her point in the parlour-game. Daniel Betts is neat sportsmanlike one-dimensionality worn down to instinctive defensiveness by the dotty household.

Best of all are Jenny Quayle's Myra, watchful and knowing, the one prepared for what happens and taking it in her practiced stride. And Osmund Bullock's outstanding diplomat. Unimaginative, obedient to orders, he mixes practiced caution of tone and manner with a ready smile to heal all situations. Serious as anything, he's therefore outstandingly, and pitiably, funny.

If Mold wants to continue wearing its old hat, it could turn its attention to Ben Travers' classic farces? They're less self-congratulatory, beautifully constructed, very funny. And stuffed with fully-clothed types who say things in the most respectable way.

Sorel Bliss: Sara Beharrell
Simon Bliss: Edward Bennett
Clara: Christine Ozanne
Judith Bliss: Diane Fletcher
David Bliss: Paul Shelley
Sandy Tyrrell: Daniel Betts
Myra Arundel: Jenny Quayle
Richard Greatham: Osmund Bullock
Jackie Coryton: Katherine Holme

Director: Christopher Morahan
Designer: Mark Bailey
Lighting: Nick Beadle
Sound: Kevin Heyes
Music supervisor: Ilona Sekacz

2004-05-16 23:52:17