News Review
November 2016 production of
Hayfever
“A production not to be sneezed at” by John
Caplen
I was fortunate enough to be in the audience
for the Friday night performance of the
“Masters” Hayfever:
Four acquaintances of the Bliss family had
been invited to their home in Cookham.
Right from the opening scene the Bliss
siblings Sorrel and Simon, prove to be
shallow, selfish and completely insincere.
These traits were shown beautifully by both
Kathryn Shirley and Ed Price.
The mother of the family Judith is elegant,
serene and completely potty. It is soon
apparent that the whole world is a stage so
why stop acting. The flippancy and
coquettish acting portrayed by Sue Sutton
reached the audience in a try believable
fashion. David Bliss, the head of this
dysfunctional family gave John Watson his
opportunity to be prickly, yet romantic and
this he achieved.
Soon the guests start arriving, each one
treated with contempt and deplorable
manners. The first to arrive is Sandy Tyrell,
sporty, exuberant and well portrayed by
Patrick Carty.
Myra Arundel
then arrives and
her matter of
fact attitude is
soon vented on
the Bliss family
and well
handled by
Sandra Stanley.
The arrival of
Richard
Greatham and
Jackie Coryton complete the guest list
Richard Greatham being a diplomat was
played by Darren O’Connor with great
diplomacy whilst Lucy Wood’s innocence
and vulnerability came across well. The
reluctant Housekeeper, Clara, added to, the
comedy of the play throughout and Trudy
Caplen’s appearance will be long
remembered.
Lighting and sounds, were as usual supplied
by the dynamic duo, Chris and Liz Hall,
whilst the ever diligent support team
provided, set, costumes, props, make-up ,
programmes and front of house,
Altogether a thoroughly good evenings
entertainment steered throughout by the
evergreen John Munson.
John Caplen
Coward’s comedy
also combines neat
symmetry, as each
guest pairs off with
the wrong person,
with slim dialogue in
which every word
falls perfectly into
place.
The Guardian
“
Hay Fever by Noel
Coward
”Of the many plays that have been written
about impossible guests, Coward’s is one of
that select band that deals with nightmare
hosts”
The Guardian Review of Hay Fever
© Detling Players 2016