Hay Fever (1925)
Sir Noel Coward was a child
prodigy. Hay Fever was written in 1924 when he was 25, and
it became his third successful production (not counting musical
reviews he cranked out songs for). Coward was known for his portrayal
of spoiled rich English folks acting badly. In Hay Fever, the Bliss
family, mom, pop and two children, each invites a house guest over without
telling the others. There's a lot of double entendre and partner swapping,
but it was still essentially a wacky comedy. It was supposedly based
on a real house party Coward attended, but every one denied being the prototype.
After the premiere, Coward quipped, "Although the audience and the critics
may have found the play a trifle dull, they would at least have to admit
that it was as clean as a whistle." Coward remained active until his death
in 1973. |