“HAY FEVER"

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 700, 27 June 1929, Page 16

“HAY FEVER"

SPARKLING COWARD COMEDY j LITTLE THEATRE SUCCESSS "Hay Fever.'' a comedy in three ! ! acts by Xoel Coward. Presented at the Concert Chamber last evening by the Little Theatre Society. CAST Simon Bliss Roberts Tole I Sorel Bliss ...... Isabelle Lorigan Clara Xell Lush Judith Bliss .... Daphne Knight David Bliss V. J. C. Fisher Sandy Tyrell Tim Hudson Marie Arundel Lola Musseler ! Richard Greatham .... Cyril Seaward j Jackie Cory ton Fay Reynolds ! Only a year or two ago the London ! newspapers commented if something by Xoel Coward did not appear regularly every fortnight. This astonishing young man (he will be 30 in De- I cember) has poured out a flood of j comedy, drama, revue sketches and music, acted in several of his own pieces, and continues to do everything with an excellence which no longer occasions surprise. Coward s brilliance is an accepted fact. Ono admires his ability to write sparkling conversation, which at times becomes bitingly brilliant, and iiis amazing facility for inventing delici- ■ ously amusing situations. ‘ Hay j Fever” is Coward’s best work in this j respect. In reality this comedy is a stinging satire on modern, uncontrolled youth, j and a tilt at melodrama, written with a sense of freedom and freshness i which makes one laugh with the author from beginning to end. He is superficial, if you will, but then he is j dealing entirely with superficial ; people. For an amusing situation could one equal the first act of “Hay Fever”? It ; gives us a perfect picture of the Bliss household and their method of existence. Father, mother, son and daughter, each, unknown to the other, has invited a friend to stay for the weekend and each has decided that his or her friend shall sleep in the Japanese room. Each accuses the other of selfishness and ulterior motives. Judith, a retired actress, lapses into the “great” scene from her former stage success on the slightest provocation, and the family plays up to her. They do on every possible occasion until the visitors become almost demented. The behaviour of the Bliss family is even more amusing in the second act and in the third we leave them as their guests steal away to the accompaniment of a breakfast-table wrangle. For some reason best known to himself the producer, Mr. Kenneth Brampton, has used the pruning knife rather severely on “Hay Fever,” and in doing so has lopped off many excellent lines. It would seem from the performance that the present cast would have been quite capable of playing the comedy as Mr. Coward wrote it. As usual, Mr. Brampton has fitted his players to their roles with unerring accuracy and almost without exception they give the author’s sparkling lines all the zest they require. Miss Knight acquitted herself admirably in a role which required extremely careful treatment. She must be vain and selfish, romantic and arrogant; she must be petulant and flippant—and over all there must be thrown the cloak of charm. Miss Knight gave us most of these moods. There is a certain brittle touch about her work and an incisiveness in her speech which enabled her to give an excellent portrait of the “actress in home surroundings.” It was a carefully studied performance. Miss Lorigan is one of the Little Theatre's most promising players. She has youth and grace and the ability to convey the illusion cf reality in her acting. Mr. Tole’s performance was one of the best he has given. His work is always easy to watch. Miss Musseler’s French accent was foreign to the original play, but she fits the part admirably and plays with ease and assurance. Mr. Seaward was scarcely the traditional diplomat, but his interpretation of the part was skilful enough to assist the comedy. His best work is in the second act. Mr. Hudson’s youthful enthusiasm was admirably expressed. Mr. Fisher gave an even performance, free from mannerisms. Miss Reynolds made a useful ingenue and Miss Lush a droll maid. “Hay Fever” is excellent entertain- ! ment and will be played until Saturday evening.