Slough Express
Review: Hay Fever at the Mill at Sonning
Noel Coward’s Hay Fever runs at the Mill at Sonning until May 13
The arrival of hayfever in the spring is not usually welcome but fans of Noel Coward will feel a tingle of anticipation as this Twenties comedy farce returns to the stage.
Set on midsummer’s day 1925 in the living room of a country house in Cookham, overlooking Marlow, the whimsical three-act play revolves around the outrageously theatrical Bliss family as they endlessly ham it up for their weekend house guests.
It was written by Coward as a young man in his early 20s, inspired by Sunday dinners at the home of a Bohemian family who would subject non-theatrical friends to games of charades while volubly disdaining their efforts.
By his own admission it is not heavy on the great witticisms he was famous for in later works, so the story relies on the eccentricities of matriarch and fading actress Judith Bliss (Issy Van Randwyck), her author husband David (Nick Waring), and their adult children Simon (William Pennington) and Sorel (Emily Panes).
Four house guests-cum-suitors arrive for the weekend and we watch their increasing bewilderment and despair as they are subjected to the full force of the Bliss family’s theatrics and bad manners.
Van Randwyck pulls that off with aplomb, enjoying many of the best moments as the weekend unravels, while pick of the house guests were Beth Lilly as the constantly terrified Jackie Coryton and Aretha Ayeh as feisty Myra Arundel, who finally flips at the family’s frolics and faux pas.
Special mention too for Joanna Brookes, who stole several scenes as the put-upon housekeeper Clara, complete with sharp putdowns, a saucy ditty and a bit of ukelele playing for good measure.
Coward’s script provides mild amusement, giving the actors room to put their stamp on the chaos in this crazy corner of Cookham.
Noel Coward’s Hay Fever runs at the Mill at Sonning until May 13.
A scene from The Mill at Sonning’s Hay Fever Picture: iAndreas Lambis
Hay FeverThe Mill at Sonning
Until May www.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