Hay Fever takes us back to the 1920’s where the well to do Bliss Family have all invited a different guest to spend the weekend, none of whom overly get on with each other or the other members of the family causing the whole shebang to degenerate into moments of high farce. In fact it is fair to say that the bickering of the Blisses leads to all their guests eventually leaving.
Fantastically cast, it also reunites Keith and Eddington’s Good Life partnership as Mr and Mrs Bliss here, Hay Fever was one of Noel Coward’s most popular plays and still being performed today.
The costumes and production design are very gorgeous. Witty and amusing rather than laugh out loud funny, this production was one of the big Christmas highlights for BBC-2 in 1984.
production details
UK / BBC-2 / 1×91 minute episode / Broadcast 26 December 1984 @ 7.25pm
Writer: Noel Coward / Script Editor: Richard Langridge / Music: Jim Parker / Costumes: Juanita Waterson / Producer: Cedric Messina / Production Design: Cecilia Brereton
cast
PENELOPE KEITH as Judith Bliss
PAUL EDDINGTON as David Bliss
PATRICIA HODGE as Myra Arundel
MICHAEL SIBERRY as Simon Bliss
PHOBE NICHOLLS as Sorel Bliss
JOAN SIMS as Clara (the Maid)
SUSAN WOOLDRIDGE as Jackie Coryton
BENJAMION WHITROW as Richard Greatham
MICHAEL COCHRANE as Sandy Tyrell
