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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-10-12, Page 23E ntertainment\ X Theatre Review ‘Hay Fever’, a long, funny trip away from the norm Always on stage Fiona Reid plays former actress Judith Bliss in the Noel Coward play Hay Fever which opened the Grand Theatre season in London Friday night. The problem with Ms Bliss and her whole family is that they are as dramatic off stage as she was on stage, bringing chaos to those around them. By Keith Roulston For people who regularly attend the Blyth Festival, probably noth­ ing could be farther from their life experience than the comedies of British playwright Noel Coward. Yet despite that there are flashes of recognition while watching Hay Fever which opened at London's Grand Theatre, Friday night. While the enjoyment of going to the Blyth Festival involves recog­ nizing people and situations from our everyday life, Hay Fever, and Mr. Coward's plays in general, is peopled by sophisticated, witty wealthy British people with plenty of time and servants on their hands. Yet there are moments when everyone will connect with the plight of the four visitors to the chaotic home of the Bliss family in the English countryside outside of London. Who hasn't experienced the feeling of wanting to slide into a hole when two members of a family began arguing, acting as if you weren't even there? Who hasn't had something break or go wrong while visiting someone's house and not known what to do? It's these moments of recognition that manage to tie Hay Fever to reality and keep it from taking off completely into the realm of the absurd. The Bliss family is certainly well on its way to the unbelievable. There's Judith Bliss, who has retired from the stage but not from acting: everything she docs is a per­ formance. There's her husband David, a famous novelist who can't slop creating fiction even when he leaves his typewriter. There arc their theatrical children, son Simon and daughter Sorel who certainly take after their parents. Even their maid, Mrs. Bliss's former dresser from theatre days, is eccentric beyond belief. Into this insane world drop four unsuspecting guests, each invited by a Bliss family member interest­ ed in a little romance. They soon find themselves, by turns, ignored, confused and romanced (by some­ one other than the person who invited them for romantic purpos­ es). Mr. Coward is quoted, in the pro­ gram notes, as saying Hay Fever "has no plot at all and remarkably little action" and so depends on outstanding performances from the cast to make it work. He would be delighted by the work of the cast pulled together by Grand Artistic Director Martha Henry. Fiona Reid is most familiar to Canadian audiences from her tele­ vision series The King of Kensing­ ton but she has a wide background in stage comedy with such theatres as The Show Festival. She has pre­ viously played the extravagant Judith Bliss in Hay Fever at Mani­ toba Theatre Centre and the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. She knows how to get the most out of Mr. Coward's lines, pausing at just the right time to draw the most laughter possible. As the totally self-centred novel­ ist David Bliss, Benedict Campbell is at his blustery best. Ben Carlson plays their would-be artist son Simon while Elizabeth Marmur plays the equally eccentric Sorel. The roles of all the Bliss family members require a tremendous amount of energy to keep the whirl­ wind of action in the Bliss house­ hold going. While the Bliss family members are creating chaos, their guests are reacting and, though their parts are smaller, they provide some of the most precious moments in the play. Local audience members will rec­ ognize Paulina Gillis, who has appeared at Blyth in Firefly, Local Talent, Lilly, Alta and Cakewalk. Here she plays the shy, not-too- bright Jackie Coryton, who can't cope with the insanity of the Bliss household. She comes expecting a fling with daddy Bliss then finds herself unwillingly engaged to son Bliss, only to escape the home with the help of another young guest. Some of her best moments are cre­ ated without saying a word at all as she tries to cope with the bewilder­ ing world she has found herself in. Robert Haley also manages to bring high hilarity with the raise of an eyebrow or some marvellous piece of physical comedy as Richard Greatham, the diplomat who tries to keep his calm demeanor among the chaos. Ted Atherton plays boxer Sandy Tyrell who comes infatuated with Judith Bliss but finds his defences can't fend off her romantic daugh­ ter. He's a master of the double- take, winning laughter when he doesn't even have a line. Nancy Palk as Myra Arundel seems at first as if she might be every bit as theatrical as the Bliss family but before the play is over she, like the other visitors, is hang­ ing on for dear life and glad to escape (when the visitors finally do bolt out the door the Blisses are so busy arguing with each other, they don’t even notice). Marti Maraden, who has turned from acting at Stratford Festival, to directing, keeps the action frantic on the stage while getting outstand­ ing performances from all cast members. The final scene of act one is nearly worth the price of admission as the family blissfully ignores their guests while the guests try to figure out how to react. Set in England, during the glam­ ourous 1920s, peopled by rich and beautiful, Hay Fever may be a long journey from everyday life but its a very funny trip. Donald Ives on October 17 From his wife Jean & son Hughie & wife Carman (Doe for RON STEVENSON & NICOLE OLEJNIK Saturday, October 15,1994 9 P.M. - 1 A.M. At Brussels, Morris & Grey Community Centre Age of Majority Tickets $5.00/Person For more information call 522-0994 or 887-6065 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994. PAGE 23. Dynamic speaker to conduct BBA seminar Angela Jackson, dynamic speaker and seminar leader for such companies as Chrysler Canada, IBM and Bell Canada will conduct a seminar Oct. 24 at Blyth Memorial Hall as part of the first fall dinner of the Blyth Business Association. Topic of the seminar is: "Putting on the Ritz - How to Alleviate Fear and Excel in Customer Service". Topics touched on by Ms Jackson include: • How to make quality customer service the competitive edge of this decade. • How to remove the barriers that stand in the way of delivering superior service. • How to discover creative, innovative ways to add value. • How to support your service people. • How to improve your ability to understand customer needs. • How to deliver the WOW of excellent customer service. • How to practice the seven steps of customer success. A former teacher who moved on to work in television, Ms Angela Jackson became a corporate trainer presenting leadership, customer service and communication programs. In 1985 she began her own company, Angela Jackson and Associates. She has also written the book Celebrating Anger, about turning negatives into positives. Her fee for this event is being offset by Federal Business Development Bank as part of the celebration of Small Business Week. Tickets for dinner plus a two-hour seminar are just $20 in advance. A social hour will beheld from 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:15. Ms Jackson will speak following dinner. Tickets arc available at Carol's Candies in Blyth (523-4700) or The Citizen (523-4792 or 887-9114). Because of the importance of this speaker business people from neighbouring communities are invited to attend. Blyth Business Association was formed this spring, as an organization to promote- the village and to provide opportunities for business people in Blyth and area to meet and upgrade their skills. COME CURLING at the Vanastra Curling Club SEASON STARTS Friday, October 28 No Experience Necessary Equipment & Insturction Supplied' For information contact Murray Adams 282 9841 Trish Scott 233-7400 Forthcoming Marriage Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary RALPH & NANCY CAMPBELL The family of Ralph and Nancy invites family and friends to an Afternoon Social on Oct. 15/94 from 2 - 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham. Best Wishes Only! MEDD-LEE Together, with our parents, Margaret Medd, Clinton Jim Medd, Florida and David and Rosemarie Lee, Blyth, we are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of Amanda Margaret and Jason John The wedding will take place Saturday, November 5,1994 at 7:00 p.m. at Londesboro United Church. Open reception to follow at Blyth Community Centre 9:00 p.m.