Hay Fever

Noël Coward never dates as this splendid production of Hay Fever proves. His 90-year-old play is as fresh, frothy, and as frivolous as when he first wrote it, and this ensemble of actors, headed by the insouciant and delightful Felicity Kendal, deliver each witty riposte with finesse.

Hay Fever is a classic in the tradition of, and has been likened to, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest. Its plot is as thin as a potato crisp - an aging actress and her novelist husband and their two indulged children all invite guests, unbeknownsy to each other, for the weekend and proceed to ignore them when they arrive and flirt with others. But it’s what Coward does with the material that keeps it buoyant and bubbly.

Judith Bliss, the aging actress at the head of the household, is a comic gem, and Ms Kendal, who follows a long line of legendary performers who include Dame Edith Evans and Judi Dench, finally gets her chance to put her stamp on the part and the result is bliss! Whether seductively warbling a chansonette in French, being argumentatively disagreeable or chain-smoking, her comic timing is superb.

Matching Ms Kendal for invention and technique is Lindsay Posner whose direction is masterful. Marvellous pregnant pauses are brilliantly built for laughs which continually stumble over each other.

Michael Simkins is beautifully bewildering as the diplomat guest Richard and handles his comic-business in Act 2’s word-game with riotous success, likewise Sara Stewart as the waspish Myra who effortlessly swishes around looking gorgeous and drinking cocktails. In the role of Clara, the hard-done-by maid, Lisa Armytage has no trouble getting multiple laughs, while Celeste Dodwell also scores as the vacuous flapper Jackie.

Peter McKintosh’s sets and costumes are a period delight, instantly evoking the twenties and the grand country-house setting with eye-catching detail. This production has West End transfer stamped all over it, and following the Australian tour that’s where it’s heading. This is Coward as it should be done and it’s a blissful delight.

Peter Pinne     

Photographer: Nobby Clark.