This is Bath -- One of Noel Cowards most popular comedies, written in 1924, Hay Fever has been revived more times than Frankenstein, and deservedly so. In recent years leading lady Judith Bliss has been played by Olivia Coleman, Diana Rigg, Judi Dench, Maria Aitken and Geraldine McEwan to name but a few. This pantheon of acting talent didn't queue up for a poor part in a bad play. Joanna Bowman takes the role at The Mission and a cracking good job she makes of the melodramatic madam too. The four Bliss family members, Judith, husband David, son Simon and daughter Sorel have each invited a guest for the weekend without each other's knowledge. Herein lies the first family row followed by the arrival of the guests, soon to be used as audience and participants in the family's fun, consisting of contrived liaisons, games, insults and general mayhem. The guests never quite understand that, as Sorel says, "We none of us ever mean anything." After the first scene sets the stage, the action starts to crackle in the second scene with a game vaguely based on charades. Subsequently the pace and humour never flags. Produced in the round by An Garner, the set, period dress and even the maid Clara (welcome normality provided by Jane Lawson) are pitch perfect. Dated it may be, but it's still worth ignoring the frost and treking down to The Mission for an entertaining evening. Philip Horton
Reported by This is 15 hours ago.
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