Hay Fever

It was a pleasure to have visited as a guest reviewer, on this occasion, and provide coverage for The New Stagers’ production of ‘Hay Fever’. Thank you for the warm welcome together with a very reasonably priced bar and seat close to a fan - all much appreciated on a warm evening!

Congratulations to the Production Team who selected a strong cast for this challenging play. It was apparent just how much effort had gone into the rehearsal schedule with the cast being well-drilled and precise in their acting. The stage at St Anne’s Hall is relatively small and the production team certainly appeared to have carefully addressed issues regarding ‘blocking’ and ‘masking’.  Playing to black curtains, together with windows and door to garden, created a strong focal point whilst providing a feeling of greater space onstage.  It also created a perfect entrance/exit for the cast.    

‘Hay Fever’ is a play with much intricate, and often rapid, prose.  As such, it is vital the pace and energy be consistently maintained.  Simply put, to succeed it demands a strong cast who not only know their lines but have mastered the art of comic timing. The dialogue must be punchy and the actors both quick, and natural, in picking up on their cues.  Regrettably, a weak cast can result in ‘Hay Fever’ being perceived as a laborious play to watch – something it most definitely isn’t. I am very pleased to say that this audience was treated to some first-class acting and an enjoyable overall performance.

The strength of this performance leaves little room for criticism.  I am sure that the entire audience, like me, left feeling highly impressed with the quality of all cast members and The New Stagers in general.  This was most definitely ‘value for money’ in anyone’s eyes and a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

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