Laughter is the Best Medicine

Hay Fever – ShawChicago

 

Best described as a marriage of high farce and a comedy of manners, Noel Coward’s 1925 play was one of the earliest successes of his prolific theatrical career. It preceded and set the tone for such later hits as “Private Lives” and “Blithe Spirit.” Coward confessed that he modeled the characters in this play, especially his melodramatic leading character, Judith Bliss, after real-life Chicago actress Laurette Taylor. Ms. Taylor, who had won great acclaim in “Peg O’ My Heart,” and later made a comeback as Amanda in “The Glass Menagerie,” was known for her ostentatious behavior and infamous weekend gatherings. 

While Noel Coward was visiting New York City during the 1920’s, he came to know Miss Taylor’s Sunday evening soirees, wherein she forced her guests to play games, such as charades. When they attempted to act out the clues, Taylor would bitterly criticize them, telling the reluctant game players that they were bad actors. Then she’d demonstrate the “correct” way to mime their clues. These humiliating occurrences, fueled by heavy drinking, find their way into Coward’s comedy. 

In this play, Judith Bliss, a famous former fictional star of the London stage, has invited Sandy, an ardent, younger admirer, down to their country home for the weekend. Unknowingly, her writer husband, David, has also invited Jackie, a shy, young debutante who’s inspiring his latest book. Additionally, their children, Sorel and Simon, have each invited their own guests, as well. Sorel’s friend Richard is a reserved diplomat and Myra, Simon’s weekend date, is flirtatious flapper. Together, along with Clara, their put-upon domestic, the weekend becomes a series of chaotic events that forces their guests to band together and secretly flee the estate. Noel Coward introduced the theatrical device in this comedy, but he would use over and over again in subsequent plays.

Guest director Barbara Zahora returns for a third time to stage and guide another ShawChicago production. Ms. Zahora, a talented actress in her own right, has been seen regularly on this and many other stages around Chicago. Heavy on character, lighter on plot, Ms. Zahora beautifully accomplishes the goal of this company: to present a drama or comedy as an assembly of auditory delight. Foregoing the usual trappings of scenic design, magnificent props and lavish costuming, ShawChicago is readers theatre. And Ms. Zahora’s presentation of this Coward classic is, indeed, a symphony of sound. It’s the pure beauty of the human voice that drives this company’s productions, and in that, Barbara Zahora has made the most of her talented cast.

The company is led by one of ShawChicago’s favorite regulars, the gifted Mary Michell. As Judith Bliss, Ms. Michell employs the vivacious vocal acrobatics that have made her so memorable in such roles as Lady Bracknell and Mrs. Erlynne. What Ms. Michell doesn’t convey with her fluid intonations, her expressive face adds as punctuation. In short, Ms. Michell is once again a delight.

The supporting cast consists of more actors who will be familiar to ShawChicago audiences. Lovely Monica Orozco and handsome Matt Gall are stellar as her spoiled, grown children, twins Sorel and Simon Bliss. Both actors follow in their fictional mother’s footsteps, demonstrating their talent for creating vocal magic with Coward’s dialogue. As David Bliss, Charls Sedgwick Hall returns to the Ruth Page stage to create the family patriarch who happily hides in his own literary world, content to leave his wife and children to their own amusements.

The remaining company features more ShawChicago favorites. Gary Alexander is, as usual, funny and delightfully droll as Judith’s adoring fan, Sandy Tyrell; beautiful, multitalented Callie Johnson sweetly portrays David’s deer-in-the-headlights muse, Jackie Coryton. Handsome Dan Rodden is appropriately stodgy but genuinely amicable as Sorel’s guest, diplomat Richard Greatham and, as Simon’s provocative paramour, Myra Arumdel, Jhenai Mootz is continually scintillating and sensuous. Character actress Molly Burns adds her own dry humor to the proceedings, as Clara, the Bliss family’s overtaxed and under-appreciated housekeeper.

Staged with this company’s signature, top-notch comic timing, Barbara Zahora brings one of Noel Coward’s earliest classics to life in this hilarious staged reading. The comedy proves that laughter is the best medicine for this Hay Fever. Featuring a period-perfect musical design by George Zahora, this winning production is a perfect symphony of sound for the human voice. Steering clear of such clutter and external trappings as flashy scenery and period props, with just the tiniest suggestion of costuming, Robert Scogin’s unique theatrical company once again demonstrates why this popular, long-running theatrical group continues to be one of Chicago’s best-kept secrets.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas  

                 

Presented April 14-May 7 by ShawChicago at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 312-587-7390 or by going to http://shawchicago.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.