By Noel Coward
Directed by Linda Garski

Production dates:
May 21-22; 27-29:
7:30 PM
May 23 Sunday Matinee:
2:00 PM

Cast of Characters Suzanne Popelka - Judith Bliss David Edgren - Simon Bliss Jenni Guggenheimer - Sorel Bliss Gary Popelka - David Bliss Kristin Felts - Myra Arundel Dick Antinoja - Richard Greatham Megan Jacobson - Jackie Coryton Eric Manz - Sandy Tyrell Cory Shaw - Clara

This is Linda Garski's 8th production as WRCT director. She began her time as a WRCT volunteer in 1989, and has worked in virtually every capacity both onstage and off. Linda served on the WRCT Board of Directors from 2001-2007, and has acted as Webmaster of the WRCT website since shortly after it's inception. She works as a Web Designer for Renaissance Learning.

THE STORY: Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noel Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925. Best described as a cross between high farce and a comedy of manners, the play is set in an English country house in the 1920s, and deals with the four eccentric members of the Bliss family and their ourtrageous behavior when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. The self-centered Blisses are so engaged in this family row that they do not notice their guests' response to their actions.

Notes from the Director, Linda Garski:
The above synopsis is taken from notes by the publishing company, but here is MY quick take on this funny play, in layman's terms:

The Bliss family owns a lovely country house, which they use to relax and entertain guests. On this particular weekend, each of them—unbeknownst to the others—invites a guest for the weekend, and each intends for their guest to stay in the guest room. Sorel invites Richard. Simon invites Myrna. Judith invites Sandy. David invites Jackie. (Clara wonders how she's going to keep everything in order.)

So now all the Blisses are ticked at each other, and decide it will be fun to ruin each other's weekend. The guests, however, are clueless to what's going on. The reactions of the guests are as funny as the antics of the Bliss family. Hilarity ensues.

James D. Zabel - Stage Manager

The Blisses had this schtick down LONG before the Osbornes were in existence—they bicker, they play tricks on each other, and they ignore the fact that at times they are indeed quite "out there" compared to the average family. But, at other times, despite their wealth and fame, they are very much like the average family, and they really do care about each other.