What do the wealthy elite do to keep themselves occupied? How does someone who has everything amuse themselves? By playing with the only thing they can’t buy – each other.
Written in 1924, Noël Coward‘s Hay Fever is a comedy set in the English countryside, where a retired actress potters around the garden learning the names of the flowers because, well, when you’re that rich, what else is there to do?
THE SHOW
Retired actress Judith Bliss potters round the garden while her grown-up children, Simon and Sorel, act out scenes from old plays with her to pass the time – until the supporting cast arrives. Unknown to each other, every member of the Bliss family has invited a love interest to stay for the weekend. Judith has invited long-time fan Sandy Tyrell, husband and novelist, David Bliss invites mousey young flapper girl Jackie Coryton (who’s scared of her own shadow), Sorel is expecting diplomat Richard Greatham and Simon has invited older woman Myra Arundel.
As each guest arrives, the rest of the family ignore their presence, but as the weekend goes on, flirtations start up all over the place and the Bliss family end up in, well, bliss at the commotion they’re causing.
The set is simple – a grand summer house living room with no changes needed and everything plays out in daylight, so don’t expect any big lighting or sound effects here. Everything about this show relies on its cast.
THE CAST
Hay Fever has got it right. Christine Baranski does a great job as retired actress Judith – it’s refreshing to see an American actor take on an English accent and actually commit to it, rather than coasting through it the way so many visiting stars seem to. Richard E. Grant has a fairly small part to play as husband David, but he brings it the grace and charm he’s known for.
Will Close as Simon and Ophelia Lovibond as Sorel are solid as the grown-up children, but it’s Ash Hunter as Sandy and Lucy Karczewski as Jackie who really steal the show. Having only seen Ash in Hamilton, this was a complete role reversal, and it’s a pleasure watching him play the soppy puppy-dog with a crush. Lucy plays Jackie with a lot more humour than I’ve seen in other productions, really making the part her own.
IS IT WORTH SEEING?
Hay Fever is a classic Noël Coward play, but at over a hundred years old, it does start to ask the question of whether it’s meaty enough to satisfy modern theatregoers’ appetites. In truth, not a lot happens, and the chaos you expect to boil over in act two disappointingly never really arrives.
What saves it is the cast. If you get good actors, you’ve got a good show and this cast is good. Worth booking for the performances alone, even if the play itself is a little thin on substance.
★★★★
Reviewed by West End Wilma
Photos by Marc Brenner
Hay Fever is playing at Wyndham’s Theatre until 12 December 2026.
