‘Hay Fever’ nothing to sneeze at

Left to right: Amanda Coy, Adam McGee, Jacquelyn Babb.

By Pamela Dyer-Smith
Theatre Arts Department

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Noel Coward’s long famous, jocular parody on actresses who keep acting even when off-stage, “Hay Fever” is being brought to the University Theatre’s stage opening their 2004-2005 Season on October 1.

Amanda Coy (Judith Bliss) will be starred as the comedy’s retired stage star who cannot say or do anything in her own living room which isn’t an echo of the corny plays she used to act.  When she comments on the weather, or when she wants to reproach her husband for a flirtation, she immediately lapses into a cliché from one of her old plays that applies to the situation.

“If Mr. Coward has a grudge against actresses,” wrote the renowned drama critic Percy Hammond, on reviewing ‘Hay Fever’ in New York Herald Tribune when the comedy had its first Broadway production in 1925, “in this play he has got even with them.”

With the faintly disdainful, sardonic wit that has distinguished such other plays as “Private Lives,” Blithe Spirit,” and “Nude With Violin,” the brittle British Mr. Coward in “Hay Fever” is telling of a wacky weekend in which the vain and simpering actress and her husband, grown son and daughter entertain – or rather fail to entertain – a quartet of house guests.

Adam McGee (David) will play the part of the actress’s novel-writing husband, and Ryan Tacata (Simon) and Moira Leslie ( Sorel) their discourteous son and daughter.  The guests of their disorderly household will be acted by Cody Andrus as a youthful admirer invited for Mama, Melissa Erin Riordan as an empty headed beauty for Papa, Jacquelyn Babb as a rather aging lady for the son, and Miles Carignan as a dull witted diplomat for the daughter.

Performance dates are Oct. 1-2 and 5-9 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. in the John Wright Theatre.

Tickets are $7 for Fresno State students; $12 for Fresno State faculty/staff, seniors, members of the Alumni Association, and students at other schools; and $14 general admission.  For more information, call the Theatre Box Office at 8-2216.

Purchase tickets on-line at http://www.csufresno.edu/Theatre.