Excellent acting and costumes in Noël Coward centenary play.

Mesi Johnson, Chris Allen-Mason, Cheryl Ryan. Photo courtesy of the Priory Theatre.

Hay Fever by Noel Coward, at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, running from 4 – 12 July. Directed by Bev Avis-Dakin.

Review by Charles Essex.

One of Noël Coward’s favourite topics was the English upper middle classes between the wars, and in Hay Fever, written 100 years ago, the Bliss family was firmly in his sights. Indeed, the title reflected that hay fever could make the Bliss of the countryside (pun intended) miserable for those who suffer from it.

Rather than being guests from Hell, the Bliss family are the hosts from Hell. Judith Bliss (Cheryl Ryan) was a retired actress but Cheryl superbly captured her egotism and inability to forego the need for adulation.  Chris Allen-Mason and Mesi Johnson portrayed her two spoilt children perfectly, son Simon and daughter Sorel, 1920s bright young things, shallow, whimsical and capricious.  Ruth Jones again starred in a low key but essential role as the weary put-upon maid Clara who had been Judith’s dresser in the latter’s acting days.

Noel Coward's classic Hay Fever. Photo courtesy of The Priory Theatre.

With the inherent silver spoon of privilege and entitlement, each had invited a friend to the country house for the weekend.  Daniel McAteer was suitably besotted as Sandy, young infatuated admirer of Judith.  Paul Sully depicted brilliantly the bland, grey diplomat Richard, invited by Sorel.  He conveyed a mixture of shellshock at being a stranger in an even stranger house with hesitancy and then embarrassment when he met house guest Jackie (Rose Bird). Rose was perfect as a young ingenu, completely out of her depth having been invited by Judith’s husband David (David Milburn).

Simon had invited femme fatale Myra (Sharon Sully).  Sharon communicated Myra’s allure convincingly as a seductive temptress, whilst clearly being superficial and manipulative.

Excellent acting by the cast. Photo courtesy of The Priory Theatre.

The bickering between the family members, clearly a regular family activity, left the guests thoroughly bemused and bewildered. Judith incorporated dialogue from her plays as she overplayed the melodrama, and Simon and Sorel took supporting roles. Cheryl, Chris and Mesi played these scenes superbly.

The staging, in a 1920s Art Deco sitting room with authentic Roaring 20s costumes and later evening dress, was top notch, and the acting was first rate, as The Priory is renowned for.  Director Bev Avis-Dakin coordinated the action well across three acts. However, the first act dragged interminably and there were very few laughs for a Noël Coward play. There was virtually no plot, with a predictable ending.  This script is very dated and is a Coward play that is probably past its sell-by date.

For tickets, please go to:  https://www.priorytheatre.co.uk/