1980

Hay Fever by Noel Coward (the second full stage production)

31 January and 1/2 February 1980

Venue: Borromäum Theatre, Byfangweg, Basel

Programme

Cast:

Barbara Clark as JUDITH BLISS, a newly-retired actress

Bryan Taylor as DAVID BLISS, her husband, a novelist

Diana Zuger as SOREL BLISS and

Graham Simons as SIMON BLISS, their disagreeable children.

Margot Sehringer as JACKIE CORYTON, a flapper

Iris Linsi as MYRA ARUNDEL, a vamp

Tony Obrist as RICHARD GREATHAM, a diplomat

Bob Billington as SANDY TYRELL, an amateur boxer

Muriel Taylor as CLARA, the housekeeper

Hay Fever is a comic play written in 1924 best described as a cross between high farce and a comedy of manners, the play is set in an English country house at Cookham (Berks) in June 1925, and deals with the four eccentric members of the Bliss family and their outlandish behaviour when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. The self-centred behaviour of the hosts finally drives their guests to flee while the Blisses are so engaged in a family row that they do not notice their guests' furtive departure.

The Stage:

Producer: Peter Broberg

Production Manager: Ron Hill

Stage Manager: Peter Nixon

Prompteur:   Ria Grundy

Costumes:   Lynn Mazzotti

Properties:   Pauline Haffter and Shirley Burgy

Wigs and Make-up:   Rüdi and Vreni Ortlieb, Mary Oellers

Front of House:   Joan and Ruedi Kuster

Programme and Publicity:   Tony Obrist