CLEVER COMEDY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 7

CLEVER COMEDY

Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever” nilSS' MORRISON TRIUMPHS “Hay Fever/’ a modern comedy, in three acts, by Noel Coward. Cast:— SIMON BLISS (John Wood) SOREL BLISS (Mary MacGregor) CLARA. (Eileen Morris) JUDITH BLISS (Ethel Morrison) DAVID BLISS (Leslie Victor) SANDY TYRELL (Roger Barry MYRA ARUNDEL (Mona Barlee) JACKIE CORYTON (Noel Boyd) RICHARD, GREATHAM ... (J. B. Rowe) “Hay Fever,” a vitally amusing and most original comedy from the pen of Noel ‘ Coward, the youngest. aud easily the most successful of English actor-au-thors of to-day, was presented to a large audience by the J. C. Williamson comedy company at the Grand Opera House on Saturday afternoon and evening. Thanks to a very competent cast,- the performance was a sheer delight, each character of the quaint 'ensemble of the deliciously crazy Bliss family lieing limned with a clarity and sureness of touch which made these mad temperamentals appear .quite natural ; . then ’Mr. Coward’s clean-cut dialogue is as spontaneously humorous as his characters and situations are original,- so that the fun is always fast and furious. (■

The ironically-named Bliss family— Mr. and Mrs., Sorel and Simon—is a product'of. the topsy-turvy conditions of to-day, With a theatrical mother and a queer novel-writing father, both wrapt up in; themselves, , the children have grower up as',wild and unrestrained as they are clever. . They are as rude to their guests as they are to one another. Each of the four Blisses, without notifying any of the others, has invited a guest for the week-end, and, on finding this out, each one is furious with the others at their lack of consideration, as both sleeping accommodation and food are rather scarce in the Maison Bliss at Cookham. As Saturday wears to a close the guests arrive >unwelcomed,, and ,spon pair off in reverse of the expected manner. Mrs. Bliss loses her Sandy Tyrell to ,Sorel, while the staid Richard Greathani, in a weak moment, finds himself kissing the ex-actress. Simon has invited Myra'Arundel, but finds himself attracted by Jackie Croyton, whom old man Bliss has invited to this hot-bed of hqy fever. Philandering is the week-end sport, and at each fresh discovery Mrs. Bliss 'becomes increasingly theatrical until she finds herself spouting ; the sentimental drivel of “Love’s Whirlwind” — her last and greatest success on the stage. The scene in which the assembled company attempts to play a game based on the acted word was very amusing, while the curtain at the end of the second act, where the Bliss family consumes its afternoon tea round the table, quite oblivious to the requirements of its guests, was a shriek. Towering over the cast was Miss Ethel Morrison. She simply revelled in the unconventional and pseudo-theatrical Judith Bliss, who lives on the hot air of a doubtful past, and the love of her adoring but rebellious children. Miss Morrison’s perfect diction, her warm, ingratiating personality, and her vivid sense of humour, which enables her to snap out of one mood into another in a flash, were virtues in a very delightful comedy creation. Another extremely well-acted role was that of Sorel Bliss by Miss Mary Macgregor. Sorel’s desire to become restrained and lady-like is so sincere that the return to impetuous insult and uncontrolled rage is made all the more remarkable, but in each mood Miss Macgregor was radiant Mr. Leslie Victor was excellent as the . long-suffering David Bliss, while Roger Barry as Sandy Tyrell, and John Wood as Simon Bliss, could scarcely be improved upon as the two younger men of the ill-assorted party. Mr. J. B. Rowe walked calmly and with dignity through the role of Richard Greatham, as became a diplomatist. A kiss has often imperilled nations, and so did bis one indiscretion with Judith disrupt the house of Bliss. Miss Mona Barlee showed ripe intelligence as Myra Arundel. but seemed to have a penchant for peculiarly-cut 1 dresses. The Jackie Coryton of Miss Noel Boyd was a distinctly attractive one, and Miss Eileen Morris scored a. .decided success tlw Stell-

drawn character of the maid Clara (formerly dresser to Judith. Bliss, actress). “Hay Fever,” which was produced by Mr. George Pqrker, will be played again this and to-morrow evenings, and on Wednesday will give place to Rachel Crothers smart and sparkling comedy, “Tait Us Be Gay.”