Broadway director Robert Longbottom, who staged the musicals “Side Show,” the revival of “Flower Drum Song” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” helms the Old Globe production of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever,” which continues through Aug. 19 at the landmark theater in Balboa Park.
Coward wrote his London country manor comedy for actors of his acquaintance, larger-than-life personalities who could deliver his lines witheringly. It was premiered at the Ambassadors Theatre in 1925 and is set in those times between the two world wars.
Actors deliver such wilting words as lady of the manor Judith Bliss’ description of Myra Arundel, her son’s weekend houseguest: “a self-conscious vampire [who] goes about using sex as a shrimping net.” This is before Judith even lays eyes on the young sophisticate.
Other Judith Bliss comments scribbled in the dark include “I’ve been an extremely nice woman all my life ” more or less” and “Everything that happens is fate: That’s always been a great comfort to me.” This character, played at the Old Globe by Judith Lightfoot Clarke, not only gets the greatest lines, she wears the best hat.
The hosts are what would be called in today’s lingo “the creative class.” Judith (notably played last year by Dame Judi Dench in Sir Peter Hall’s revival at the Haymarket) is indeed writ larger than life. She is retired and restlessly so from the London stage and must make drama, even melodrama, of every moment. Her two artsy children, Simon (Santino Fontana), an artist and pianist, and Sorel (Sarah Grace Wilson), an unrestrained free spirit, assist and applaud her. The reclusive patriarch is David Bliss (John Windsor-Cunningham), a successful novelist.
All have invited weekend guests without bothering to inform the others. The question is: can otherwise-engaged artists ever truly engage with anyone other when they can’t even communicate with each other?
The bewildered houseguests, who are treated very rudely indeed, represent the full gamut of London society: the sophisticate (Simon’s guest Myra Arundel, played by Yvonne Woods), the diplomat (Sorel’s guest Richard Greatham, played by Alan Campbell), the vacuous flapper (David’s guest Jackie Coryton, played by Bridget Moloney), and a young boxer (Judith’s guest Sandy Tyrell played by Brian M. Slaten).
All have their moments of pique but mostly they’re mere foils for the family. The cockney maid of Mikel Sarah Lambert is a delight.
Performing Coward requires a specific style of acting. “Hay Fever” is an exacting comedy of manners, farcical in nature, and provides an utterly over-the-moon experience when fabulously played. Unfortunately, this theater aficionado kept seeing others in each role, and if the company at the Globe is drab in comparison to those, let us blame the casting and the director.
As usual at the Old Globe, the production values are excellent, including Andrew Jackness’ opulent set with gardens beyond, Christopher Akerlind’s lighting and Paul Peterson’s sound design, replete with piano and a magnificent storm.
The greatest attraction, however, is Gregg Barnes’ truly magnificent collection of eccentric beaded gowns worn by the ladies. There’s the drama.
“Hay Fever” plays at 7 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, through Aug. 19.
For information and tickets, visit www.theoldglobe.org or call (619) 23-GLOBE.
