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Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noel Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 . Best described as a cross between high Farce and a Comedy Of Manners , the play is set in a British country house in the 1920s , and deals with the four eccentric members of the Bliss family and their outlandish behaviour when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. The self-centred behaviour of the hosts finally drives their guests to flee while the Blisses are so engaged in a family row that they do not notice their guests' furtive departure. Following on from the success of his earlier play ''The Vortex'', ''Hay Fever'' was an enormous hit on the West End stage and has been revived countless times around the world since then. It was the 1964 Royal National Theatre production of ''Hay Fever'', starring Maggie Smith and Edith Evans with Coward himself directing, which sparked the revival of interest in his work toward the end of his life. First production, Ambassadors Theatre, London, 1925 Sorel Bliss – Helen Spencer Simon Bliss – Robert Andrews Clara – Minnie Rayner Judith Bliss – Marie Tempest David Bliss – W Graham Browne Sandy Tyrell – Patrick Susands Myra Arundel – Hilda Moore Richard Greatham – Athole Stewart Jackie Coryton – Ann Trevor New York, Maxine Elliott's Theater, 1925 Sorel Bliss – Frieda Inescort Simon Bliss – Gavin Muir Clara – Alice Belmore Cliffe Judith Bliss – Laura Hope Crews David Bliss – Harry Davenport Sandy Tyrell – Reginald Sheffield Myra Arundel – Phyllis Joyce Richard Greatham – George Thorpe Jackie Coryton – Margot Lester New York, Avon Theater, 1931 Sorel Bliss – Betty Linley Simon Bliss – Anthony Kemble Cooper Clara – Alice Belmore Cliffe Judith Bliss – Constance Collier David Bliss – Eric Cowley Sandy Tyrell – Terence Neill Myra Arundel – Julia Hoyt Richard Greatham – Edward Cooper Jackie Coryton – Valerie Cossart A UK television production in 1960 featured Edith Evans as Judith Bliss and Maggie Smith as Myra Arundel. They later played these roles on stage under the author’s direction in the celebrated National Theatre revival in 1964 (see below). Other members of the television cast were Pamela Brown, George Devine, Paul Eddington and Richard Wattis. London, National Theatre (Old Vic), 1964 Sorel Bliss: Louise Purnell Simon Bliss: Derek Jacobi Clara: Barbara Hicks Judith Bliss: Edith Evans David Bliss: Anthony Nicholls Sandy Tyrell: Robert Stephens Myra Arundel: Maggie Smith Richard Greatham: Robert Lang Jackie Coryton: Lynn Redgrave A further UK television production in 1968 had the following cast: Sorel Bliss – Lucy Fleming Simon Bliss – Ian McKellen Clara – Hazel Hughes Judith Bliss – Celia Johnson David Bliss – Dennis Price Sandy Tyrell – Richard Briers Myra Arundel – Anna Massey Richard Greatham – Charles Gray Jackie Coryton – Vickery Turner New York, Helen Hayes Theater, 1970 Sorel Bliss – Roberta Maxwell Simon Bliss – Sam Waterston Clara – Sudie Bond Judith Bliss – Shirley Booth David Bliss – John Williams Sandy Tyrell – John Tillinger Myra Arundel – Marian Mercer Richard Greatham – Michael McGuire Jackie Coryton – Carole Shelley New York, Music Box Theater, 1985 Sorel Bliss – Mia Dillon Simon Bliss – Robert Joy Clara – Barbara Bryne Judith Bliss – Rosemary Harris David Bliss – Roy Dotrice Sandy Tyrell – Campbell Scott Myra Arundel – Carolyn Seymour Richard Greatham – Charles Kimbrough Jackie Coryton – Deborah Rush London, Albery Theatre, 1992 Sorel Bliss – Abigail Cruttenden Simon Bliss – Nick Waring Clara – Maria Charles Judith Bliss – Maria Aitken David Bliss – John Standing Sandy Tyrell – Richard Garnett Myra Arundel – Carmen Du Sautoy Richard Greatham – Christopher Godwin Jackie Coryton – Sara Crowe London, Savoy Theatre, 1999 Sorel Bliss – Monica Dolan Simon Bliss – Stephen Mangan Clara – Anne White Judith Bliss – Geraldine McEwan David Bliss – Peter Blythe Sandy Tyrell – Scott Handy Myra Arundel – Sylvestra Le Touzel Richard Greatham – Malcolm Sinclair Jackie Coryton – Cathryn Bradshaw London, Haymarket Theatre, 2006 Sorel Bliss – Kim Medcalf Simon Bliss – Dan Stevens Clara – Lin Blakley Judith Bliss – Judi Dench David Bliss – Peter Bowles Sandy Tyrell – Charles Edwards Myra Arundel – Belinda Lang Richard Greatham – William Chubb Jackie Coryton – Olivia Darnley EXTERNAL LINKS |
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