By Eva Trieger
OCEANSIDE, California — What do you get when you combine an aging melodramatic actress, a volatile writer, their two self-absorbed adult children and four unwitting guests? A riotous collection of awkward moments, flaring tempers, emotive displays and loads of fun.
Mira Costa College Theater School Director, Eric Bishop, brings us Noel Coward’s delightfully self-conscious play based on the author’s experiences with a Bohemian family in 1924 New York City. Coward was quite taken with their “loony, madcap lifestyle,” and created this script around his “adopted” family’s oddities and proclivities.
A proud season subscriber, I have come to expect nothing short of excellence from Mira Costa College Theater, and I was not disappointed. The program boasts many award winning participants of the Kennedy Center American Theater Festival. This is no mean feat considering that over 200 schools compete annually in our nation’s capital.
Judith Bliss (Alexandra Emmenegger) is based on Laurette Taylor, a renowned British actress of the post-World War I era. Her husband, David (Alex Turner) is a writer who sequesters himself in the study, avoiding interaction with his two children, who have grown self-absorbed due to their laissez faire upbringing. At the play’s outset, Sorel (Lisa Naudi) tells her brother that she is going to work at being more aware of others and improving herself. Simon (Benjamin Sutton) does a great deal of posturing as a sycophant, at turns sucking up to his mother or father depending on his desired outcome.
Set in Cookham, England, a train ride and a world away from London, the family members, unbeknownst to each other, have each invited a guest for the weekend. As each invitee arrives via cab or motorcar, he or she is mostly ignored by the family members and left to fend for him/herself until tea is served. There are so many beautifully crafted awkward moments, that I observed a number of audience members squirming in their seats, the angst and discomfort emanating from the stage.
Each of the guests experiences his/her own moment of pure unadulterated skewering, either at the wrathful tongue of Judith, the shrewish histrionics of Sorel, or the plaintive insults from Simon. This is made evident during a parlor game that the family plays regularly. The rules are not made clear to the visitors and therefore they are ill-equipped to engage, causing a virtual explosion of tempers and displays of bad behavior.
These poor, unprepared interlopers are portrayed exceptionally. Brianna Russavage, as Myra, an older woman, has captured the interest of Simon. Dickson Janda who portrays Richard, has attracted Sorel’s attention. Jack Roberts plays Sandy, a handsome young man who is flattered to have been invited by Judith herself! Jackie, a timid young flapper, superbly acted by Bella Keeme, has been asked to the country home by David. Their discomfort is not only palpable, but audible, as they try their best to blend in with this difficult family. Through a series of impromptu and manipulated trysts, each of the guests ends up in a compromising position with one of the family members leading to misunderstanding, mayhem, and much laughter.
The second act is entirely charming and provides great theatrical opportunity for the outspoken Clara. While each of the actors delivered a first-rate performance, I most enjoyed Clara (Erica Bogan), the maid, for her surly attitude, cranky barbs, and fabulous accent. The actress does a wonderful job of appearing vexed while delivering comments just this side of decency towards each of the house guests. The housemaid/dresser is used to the eccentricities of her employers, and therefore she has grown a thick skin and is not reserved about registering her dislike for the “‘ ‘anky panky” that occurs at the breakfast table, over the foul-tasting fish.
Mira Costa College Theater has inaugurated its new theater arts complex with stages for music, dance and film. The facility has been anticipated for some time and has opened for the new season. The Department of Theater and Film and the Department of Dance now occupy their dedicated place on the campus.
The set and costumes were designed by Amanda Quivey, a newcomer to MCC theater and a highly skilled addition to an already fine operation. Each costume revealed more about the personality of the character to the audience, and the appointments in the home were spot on.
Hay Fever only runs through October 7th, and tickets may be purchased online at miracosta.edu or by phone 760-795-6815.
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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com