Oyster Mill Playhouse in Camp Hill presents Hay Fever for a short run this month.
About Hay Fever
Noël Coward’s Hay Fever debuted in 1925, introducing us to the crazy and dramatic Bliss family.
The story occurs in a beautiful English country home in the 1920s and takes viewers on a wild adventure filled with crazy antics, chaos, and outlandish and eccentrically strange happenings at the hands of the Bliss family.
The audience follows along as each member of the family — unbeknownst to the others — invites a house guest for the weekend. Retired actress Judith Bliss invites a young admirer named Sandy, while her husband David Bliss, a struggling novelist, invites a ditsy young flapper named Jackie. Their children both invite their own weekend guests as well. The outspoken Sorel invites a distinguished older gentleman friend named Richard, and her brother Simon invites the vivacious Myra as his guest, much to the chagrin of his mother.
The Review
The story is broken into three acts, following the family and their guests through a most awkward and tumultuous weekend. The guests find themselves stuck in the middle of the self-centered and outrageous actions of their hosts in this hilarious and dramatic adaptation. The quick wit and snappy dialogue draw in the audience with every scene.
Directors Lois Heagy and Greg Merkel captured the essence of the time and story with the help of their wonderful production team. The set was simple and understated, fading into the background and allowing the actors to stand out in every scene. The costumes were phenomenal. They were fun and effortlessly fitting to the century.
The cast bantered casually through the show, their witty remarks and old English insults made for a most comical night of laughter. The actors were phenomenal in their parts, including Kathy Luft, who brought the character of Clara the housemaid to life. Her exasperated disposition throughout the show was quite amusing and added an extra layer of humor to the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed every character and their musings from start to finish.
See Hay Fever at Oyster Mill Playhouse
Hay Fever is currently playing at the Oyster Mill Playhouse in Camp Hill. It’s a short run from now through May 26 on weekends only. This is one you won’t want to miss!
Find tickets on Oyster Mill’s website!
