Review: HAY FEVER at Olney Theatre Center - This Farce is a Sheer Delight!

The fall theater season has begun with a distinct British tilt to it. First, Noel Coward's hysterical HAY FEVER at Olney Theatre Center. Then, there's AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J. B. Priestley at Everyman Theatre. And finally there is a World Premiere Production of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Center Stage adapted by Christopher Baker. I may be talking like an Englishman after this week.

Well, there's good news to report on the first one....HAY FEVER is pure joy. It is a true elixir for anyone looking for a laugh.

My only quibble with the distinguished playwright Noel Coward is his title. Is HAY FEVER about a frolic in the hay? (See YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN THE MUSICAL). Does it deal with farming?

You wouldn't guess from the title that is concerns a week-end in the country (I was reminded of the wonderful song by Stephen Sondheim in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC) at the gorgeous home of a retired actress, her novelist husband, and their two young adult children.

Let's start with the amazing set by John Coyne. I have never seen so many patrons walking to the edge of the stage prior to the beginning of the play to get an intricate view of the set. Coyne's English country house features a huge ceiling with a chandelier, French doors opening into a garden, many Oriental rugs, tchotchkes, enough trophy animal heads to remind one of Teddy Roosevelt's "Oyster Bay", and finally, at the top of a huge staircase leading to the bedrooms, the head of a an ostrich which figures prominently. It certainly gets the audience in the mood for an evening of laughter.

This is the 90th anniversary of HAY FEVER'S opening in London and takes place in Cookham in the English countryside. Coward attributes the inspiration of his play to actress Laurette Taylor, her husband and two children who he visited in New York City when only 21. He based his play on this eccentric family and his first draft was written in just three days. The family loved to play games with guests where each guest was to act out an adverb. You will see for yourself as this hilarious game is played out on stage. (Thank you Dramaturg Susanna Pretzer. See her work at www.olneyhayfever.wordpress.com.) The Bliss family (interesting choice) is living life to its fullest. You may be reminded of George and Martha in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF.

The play opens with siblings Simon and Sorel (wonderfully portrayed by Chris Dinolfo and Audrey Bertaux) discussing the two guests they have invited for the week-end without the knowledge of their mother and father. When Mother Judith Bliss arrives from the garden in her galoshes, you can surmise actress Valerie Leonard playing a retired actress will bring down the house with her histrionics and she does. Her stodgy husband David (Matt Sullivan) plays his part with perfection. Both characters have like their children invited guests for the week-end without their making this known to each other.

You get the picture. All hell is going to break loose and it does when each guest flirts with a member of the Bliss family.

The terrific quartet of guests include Sandy Tyrell (Jon Hudson Odom), a handsome young athlete, a diplomat Richard Greatham (Michael Russotto), socialite Myra Arundal (Beth Hylton), and Jackie Coryton (Susan Lynskey), a high-pitched woman who looks out of place.

Adding to the hilarity is Carol Randolph as Clara the maid. A small role yet she certainly milks it.

Director Eleanor Holdridge (making her Olney debut) has the entire cast in good form and utilizes their great comedic abilities. They must have had so much fun during rehearsals and it shows on the stage.

She has assembled a superb group that adds so much to the evening from Kendra Rai (terrific costumes), Nancy Schertler (great lighting), and Christopher Baine (Sound Designer responsible for the jazzy violin and guitar score)

No doubt the great Neil Simon got some ideas from this play. For example, when Judith Bliss says of her husband, "No, he's not dead, he's upstairs," you see an example of this.

The talented Leonard even gets a chance to sing a lovely ballad Mon Homme (My Man) with music by Maurice Yvain with lyrics by Albert Willematz and Jacques Charles. When she announces at the end of the play she may finally return to the stage, the whole audience was in agreement, we would all want to see this!

I'm happy to report that HAY FEVER has been extended to October 4, 2015. For tickets, call 301-924-2400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org.

On Sept. 19, Olney presents "A Night in Havana" under the stars. There is a cocktail reception, seated dinner, Live Entertainment, Salsa Band with a performance by Tally Sessions (Broadway's BIG FISH and SCHOOL OF ROCK and Billy Bigelow in Olney's CAROUSEL). Tickets are $250 per person.

Olney has "Afterwards" discussions after each matinee on both Sept. 19 and 26.

Finally, don't miss a "Marvelous Party" on Friday night, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m., a Noel Coward Cabaret featuring songs of the playwright under Associate Artistic Director of Music Theater, Christopher Youstra. It will feature the voices of Valerie Leonard, Thomas Adrian Simpson, and John Leslie Wolfe. Tickets are $35 ($25 for Olney members).

Next up at Olney in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre lab is a Rolling World Premiere BAD DOG by Jennifer Hoppe-House, Directed by Jeremy B. Cohen running September 30 to October 25, 2015.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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