Richard Grant and Christine Baranski lead Hay Fever revival

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 11:03 · Archive

A new West End revival of Noël Coward's 1924 comedy Hay Fever is running at Wyndham's Theatre until December.

A West End revival of Noël Coward's 1924 comedy Hay Fever is running at Wyndham's Theatre until 12 December, directed by Emily Burns. The farce follows the eccentric Bliss family as they each independently invite guests to stay at their country home without consulting one another, leading to misunderstandings, social awkwardness and outrageous behaviour as their unsuspecting visitors become trapped in an increasingly bizarre house party.

The production stars Christine Baranski as former stage star Judith Bliss and Richard E. Grant as her equally eccentric husband David. They are joined by Nancy Carroll, Ophelia Lovibond, Will Close, Charles Edwards, Ash Hunter, Lucy Karczewski and Jo McInnes. Set and costume design is by Frankie Bradshaw, whose elegant set captures an affluent British country home in the 1920s, complete with a perpetually flustered housekeeper attempting to maintain order amid the chaos.

The production balances classic British slapstick with razor-sharp sarcasm and Coward's trademark wit. Richard E. Grant is noted for his particularly enjoyable performance as David Bliss, with the comedy never feeling forced as physical gags sit comfortably alongside biting observations about privilege and self-absorption.

How it is being reported

• Richard Grant and Christine Baranski shine in Hay Fever with exceptional comic timingWritten over a century ago by Noël Coward, Hay Fever remains an iconic British comedy that doesn't fail to wring a chuckle from its audiences.News Shopper · 22 Oct, 17:30
• Richard Grant and Christine Baranski shine in Hay Fever with exceptional comic timingWritten over a century ago by Noël Coward, Hay Fever remains an iconic British comedy that doesn't fail to wring a chuckle from its audiences.This Is Local London · 22 Oct, 17:30

In this story: Richard E. Grant · Christine Baranski · Noël Coward · Emily Burns · Wyndham's Theatre · West End

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem