Steadstyle Chicago
	June 2008 Theatre Review by Ruth Smerling
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Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com Hay Fever Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Forest Park’s magnificent Circle Theatre wows audiences with another raucous comedy, Noel Coward’s "Hay Fever".  Coward’s hilarious houseguest saga was written in 1925.  Director Jim Schneider recreates a performance that seems to have channeled the author’s best intentions.  Schneider’s extensive research led to believe that the 1920’s were bitter times in England and people needed a good laugh.  He says “After the horrors of the first World War and the devastation of the influenza epidemic people needed escape, but more importantly, they needed the security that could only be found with stability, structure and form – the hallmarks of the Victorian era.”   He feels Coward has turned the tables with "Hay Fever", “by removing this Victorian form and replacing it with the Bliss’ personal rules (prevalent in the ‘20s) and rituals and placing the four guests in this chaotic wonderland Coward has created the madness and clash of worlds that drives the play and provides much of the humor. “ The story takes place in the palatial home of the Bliss family.  The Blisses are actors, artists and writers.  No one is ordinary.  Everyone has a great talent, or at least they believe they have a great talent.  Each member of the family has invited a guest to spend the weekend without telling anyone.  On the spur of the moment, housekeeper Clara (Mary Redmon), a woman already confused and harried, is forced to snap to attention and do double work.  Clara punctuates much of the comic action, with doorslamming and inappropriate costume, never sure where she’ll be summoned to next.  As the guests arrive everything goes haywire.  Judith Bliss is a renowned actress and will tell you that every chance she gets.  She’s invited Sandy (Eric Lindahl), a much younger man who is enamored with her.  Feuding brother and sister Simon (Bradford R. Lund) and Sorel (Erin Reitz) have invited guests also.  Simon has invited the beautiful, wealthy and exotic Myra Arundel (Kimberly Logan), who arrives garbed as stunningly as Theda Bara with a pouty painted mouth and a fox stole with its tiny eyes looking you over.  Sorel has invited the very proper English gentleman, Richard Greatham (Jonathan Nichols).  Greatham arrives with Jacky Coryton and her haughty laugh (Catherine Ferraro) and both are ignored for hours and at their wits end waiting for tea as the people run in and out all around them.  Soon Jacky finds David Bliss (Peter Esposito) who finally invites her into his study only to abandon her.  It looks like a lost weekend for the weary guests, until Act II when they are finally fed and refreshed and invited to play a guessing game that forces the David and Judith into a screaming row to the dismay and terror of Mr. Greatham.  Jonathan Nichols looks like a shell-shocked World War I vet who would rather be on the battlefield fighting Jerrys than in the middle of the Bliss squabble.  Soon hands are joined and the guests begin switching partners.  There’s plenty of misunderstanding, doorslamming and ego massaging until the guests unanimously plot to flee the crazy house on the next train. Set, lights and costumes are worthy of accolades.  Scenic designer Bob Knuth has done a brilliant job on the spectacular vibrant set from the handpainted curtain that opens on the beautiful multilevel Bliss home to the peek at the garden just outside the door.  While John Horan’s lighting design subtly creates a bright sunny day turning into quickly into an artificially lit long night for the frazzled boarders.  Costumers Suzanne Mann and Dorene Randstatter are joined by Darci Nalepa, Nelli Schultz,  Janet Buis and Donna Oswald on costume contruction.  The work is superb, recreating an era of individualism so bizarre each character almost looks uniform in their struggle to be unique.  "Hay Fever" is a classic comedy that provides laugh riot nearly a century after it was written, filled with intriguing and flamboyant characters who all take themselves very, very seriously.  "Hay Fever" runs through August 24, 2008 and is well worth a visit to lovely Forest Park.  The Theatre is located at 7300 West Madison and tickets are available by calling the box office at 708-771-0700 or by visiting www.circle-theatre.org.  Steadstyle Chicago gives "Hay Fever" an enthusiastic ****.   About Ruth Smerling Ruth Smerling began work as an entertainment writer while attending the prestigious University of Illinois School of Communications.  She persuaded the school paper to assign her to review the film "Get Shorty," starring John Travolta.  Unfortunately her work was a little too brutal for the UIC paper and that was also her last assignment.  Nevertheless, the need to write and communicate could not be extinguished and fortunately her reviews received a warm welcome by the Editor-In-Chief of College News, Daphne Robinson who named her the Reel Goddess from 1993 to 2003.  Ruth covered film festivals all over the North America and interviewed countless movie stars, directors and authors.  Meeting the French Director Bertrand Tavernier at the Chicago Film Festival was the turning point in her movie reviewing experience.  He presented a brilliant film called "It All Starts Today".  He explained that she loved his films so much because American films are enjoyable, but must sell as much popcorn and Coca-Cola as they do tickets.  Since 2003 Ruth has been submitting controversial and thought provoking reviews to Theatreworld Internet Magazine and is pleased to report that people around the world send her e-mails inquiring about Chicago theatre, actors, directors and productions underway.  Ruth is delighted to be part of the Steadstyle website and looks forward to a long and happy association.