Review: HAY FEVER, Wyndham’s Theatre

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Noël Coward’s Hay Fever, written in 1924, works best with a strong cast, and in this production at Wyndham’s Theatre, under the direction of Emily Burns, the cast is perfectly suited to this near-farcical observation of the Bliss family.

A family of four, actress Judith, her husband David, an author, and their two adult children, Simon and Sorel, each invite a guest to stay at their grand country house for the weekend, without telling the others beforehand. The weekend descends into glorious mayhem, as the family behave dreadfully towards their visitors while having a wickedly wonderful time treating them as playthings. It makes for a light-touch exploration of family, manners and etiquette, packed with physical comedy and some exquisite one-liners.

There isn’t a huge amount of depth to either the story or its characters, but that almost becomes the point. Hay Fever is a fly-on-the-wall observation of a calamitous weekend with a chaotic family who treat their guests as pawns in their own game. The dialogue is fast-paced and there are plenty of laughs throughout, with different types of humour appealing to different parts of the audience, from slapstick to the more sardonic.

Noël Coward and Richard E. Grant are always going to be well suited, and Grant flounces around the stage with gleeful abandon, clearly relishing the whole charade. Ophelia Lovibond is a standout as Sorel, while the entire ensemble demonstrates impeccable comic timing and enthusiastically embraces the physicality of the comedy. A particular highlight is the deliciously awkward meeting between Richard (David Bliss) and Jackie (Lucy Karczewski).

However, the jewel in this crown is the inimitable Christine Baranski. Switching seamlessly between boredom and pizzazz, she brings a slightly maniacal, Schitt’s Creek-esque energy to Judith, endlessly causing havoc with seemingly no regard for the consequences. It is a joy to watch the double Tony Award winner in action as the matriarch of this happily dysfunctional family.

Never taking itself too seriously, Hay Fever is a satirical slice of escapism, packed with tongue-in-cheek wit, physical comedy and a cast who clearly delight in Coward’s playful writing.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Cara Brazier

Hay Fever plays at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre until 12 December, with tickets available here.