Witticism the central theme of Hay Fever

trevor.kenney — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:58:47 +0000

Witticism and sophistication mix with a dose of light-hearted comedy to kick off the first mainstage theatre production, Hay Fever.

Twists and turns abound in this Noel Coward classic, playing Oct. 20-24, nightly at 8 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre. Directed by Theatre and Dramatic Arts faculty, Gail Hanrahan, Hay Fever presents a perfect platform to showcase complex characters, rich costuming and spectacular sets.

"Hay Fever is a very high energy play; a clever combination of farce and comedy of manners. It represents the flamboyancy of the 1920s and reflects the debonair eccentricities of Noel Coward as a playwright," says Hanrahan.

At the heart of Hay Fever are the Blisses: Judith, a recently "retired" stage actress, David, a self-absorbed novelist, and their two children who live in a world where reality slides easily into fiction. The unfortunate weekend guests – a proper diplomat, shy flapper, athletic boxer, and fashionable sophisticate – are thrown into melodramatic scenes where their hosts profess emotions and react to situations that do not really exist.

"It's a very funny show," says Hanrahan. "From the set and costumes to the whirlwind plot twists – this play is full of eccentricities to amuse the audience."

Considered by many to be cleverly constructed, slightly cynical and undeniably entertaining, Hay Fever sets the stage for an evening of good fun.

Tickets are on sale now at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office. $15 Adult and $10 Student and Senior. Tickets for all four mainstage productions are all available with season tickets priced at $45 and student/senior season tickets at $30, a 25 per cent savings. Call the Box Office 403-329-2616 for more details.

New theatre lineup another winner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:00:51 +0000

The 2009-2010 theatre season, as presented by the Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts, promises to be another entertaining and highly varied lineup.

The season opens on a witty and sophisticated note with Noel Coward's Hay Fever, Oct. 20-24. Hay Fever is a comedy about a family whose theatrical excesses torment their unsuspecting visitors. The eccentric Blisses, including Judith, a recently "retired" stage actress, David, a self-absorbed novelist, and their two children, live in a world where reality slides easily into fiction. A group of unfortunate weekend guests – a proper diplomat, shy flapper, athletic boxer and fashionable sophisticate – are thrown into melodramatic scenes where their hosts react to situations that don't exist! The resulting hilarious chaos ends only when the tortured visitors tip-toe out the door.

Next on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage is the dark, turbulent and stark Festen, by David Eldridge, Nov. 24-28. Helge is turning 60 and it should be a time of celebration and a time for the family to gather and smooth over the cracks left by the suicide of Linda, the twin sister to Christian. As Helge's eldest son, Christian raises the first toast. Confined within the family house, guests are rocked by revelations that pierce and destroy the veneer of middle-class respectability.

Seating for Festen is limited and the play has very mature content, with material unsuitable for those under 18.

The cultural phenomenon Hair, by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, with music by Galt McDermot, explodes onto the stage from Feb. 9-13, including an unusual midnight performance on Feb. 12. Set in New York City of the 1960s, a tribe of long-haired hippies celebrates its pacifist bohemian lifestyle, vehemently condemning the Vietnam War and embracing the sexual revolution. Through dance and song, Hair exposes the passionate fervor of a contentious era. Colourful and unforgettable, this rock musical has defined a generation.

The season ends in March with a 400-year old masterful classic entitled Life is a Dream, by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, which was adapted by Adrian Mitchell and John Barton. Written by a prominent playwright of Spain's Golden Age, it is the story of a king who, on the advice of an astrologer, imprisons his infant son for fear the boy will grow up to rebel against him. When, at age 20, the young man awakens from a drug-induced sleep to find himself on the throne, he behaves rather badly and is returned to prison. His excursion to the palace is said to be merely a dream, but citizens take up his cause and stage a rebellion in support of his becoming their king once and for all.

Set in a fictional Poland, Calderón's play explores illusion and reality, fate and free will, tyranny and kindness. Sometimes violent and dramatic, sometimes thoughtful and even comic, this classic has entertained audiences for nearly 400 years.

Watch for season ticket specials coming in September.

UNews - stage actress

Witticism the central theme of Hay Fever

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