Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SARAH

Quick Words:

Hay-Fever-Coward-Yale-Rep

Full Text:

THEATRE REVIEW: A Light Comedy Closes Yale Rep's 98-99 Season

(with cut)

By June April

NEW HAVEN -- In commemoration of the 100th birthday of the composer, poet,

lyricist, playwright, author, director and actor Sir Noel Coward, Yale's

Repertory Theatre has chosen Hay Fever as its final production for the 1998-99

season.

Even at its London premiere in 1925 Hay Fever received mixed reviews, yet

there have been some half dozen revivals in England and the United States.

It's one of those safe plays: there is fluff, with some barbs in it.

Directed by the theatre's artistic director Stan Wojewodski, Jr, the

charmingly zany but dated piece pokes fun at a well-to-do and egocentric

family who feasts on the frailties of their invited guests. This play could be

subtitled "A Weekend with the Bickersons," with layers of the ennui Fitzgerald

captured with his book The Great Gatsby.

Tired of tearing at each other, the individual members of the Bliss family (a

wonderfully satirical name) have each invited an unsuspecting guest to their

country estate in Cookham, England. The games that are played are on multiple

levels, with no winners save the survivors. Yet, with such a title, there is

not one sneeze throughout the entire play.

Though the production felt contrived and staged, the timing of the actors,

especially Mary Fogarty as Clara the maid, was admirable. Mary Beth Peil, who

plays the retiring actress and the matriarch of the Bliss family, Judith Bliss

has a glorious singing voice and a definite flair to her movements.

Ronald Dean Nolan as Richard Greatham has a particularly fine style for his

character. He is elegant with a hint of the slightly slimy sycophant,

retaining a debonair attitude that somehow creates a lovable character.

In contrast, Mark Deklin delivers some sound acting punches as the handsome

but not terribly bright boxing beau who is physically attracted to the

still-alluring and theatrical Judith Bliss.

The set is luscious, typical of the talented Michael Yeargan, and it is

beautifully accentuated by the mastery of lighting designer Stephen

Strawbridge.

Accolades would be justifiably deserved for the extraordinarily creative

costuming by Jane Greenwood. It was one of the greatest assets of this

production.

( Hay Fever will be playing through May 22 at the repertory theatre, on the

corner of Chapel and York Streets in New Haven. Showtimes are 7 pm on Monday,

then Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm. There are matinees at 2 pm on May 15,

19 and 22. Tickets range from $26 to $33, with discounts available to

students, senior citizens and groups of ten or more. For additional

information, call 432-1234.)