HAY FEVER

Nothe Fort

Weymouth

MELODRAMIC farce as only Noel Coward could invent it still shines brightly in this riotous comedy where a crazy family invite guests for the weekend and then proceed to scare them away.

The cast of nine, under the direction of Virginia Harrington, overact their heads off in true 1920s Coward style as the theatrical Bliss family entertain their reluctant guests, taking domestic drama to a whole new level.

Open air productions are risky even in Dorset but the sun shone upon the Wessex Actors company for their Weymouth appearance and this comic masterpiece sparkles in every way with Lotte Fletcher-Jonk (news ed: correct) brilliantly setting the pace as the diva hostess who, though retired from the stage, still manages to turn everyday life into a dramatic performance.

The simple unadorned set helps to keep the dialogue to the forefront of the action as the four unlikely guests struggle with the capers of their hosts as they quarrel, put on a pretence of passion and bully everyone to play silly parlour games in a weekend to forget.

Supporting their infuriating mother are Sean Beaumont and Harriet Webb who bring nicely judged comic timing to their roles as her two adult children while Peter Watson is the whimsical novelist father of the family in a piece of theatre that is daft and dated but still great fun.

The Dorset-based professional company is on tour throughout July and will be visiting numerous venues including Swanage, Christchurch, Wareham, Sturminster Newton and Boscombe, concluding on 24th July at Poundbury, Dorchester.

MARION COX