‘Hay Fever’ opens Friday for three-weekend run
The Morris Theatre Guild, Inc. will present Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever” on March 12-14, 20-21, 26-27 and closes Sunday, March 28.
All Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances begin at 2 p.m.
Matt Root of Morris directs the play. His assistant director is Derek Buckley of Oglesby.
The story: The Bliss family is ultra Bohemian. Mother is a retired actress who makes a crisis out of every scene, and father is a novelist. The daughter and son are handsome and ill mannered.
One weekend all announce they are expecting a guest: mother has invited an athletic youth who is in love with her; Sorel invited a diplomat; Simon invited an intense young woman; and David invited a flapper — a type he is studying for a novel.
The guests receive an unusual and rude reception. Soon, mother is paired off with the diplomat, Sorel with the athlete, Simon with the flapper, and father with his son’s young woman.
Dramatizing for all its worth, Judith first fears she must tell her husband about her romance. She then realizes her daughter is younger and more attractive to young men, so she enacts a scene of noble sacrifice. When noticing her husband’s flirtation, she follows with a poor unhappy wife scene.
The family is used to such displays, but the guests are bewildered.
Tickets are $12 each in advance and $15 each at the door. All seating is reserved on a first come, first served basis. There are no refunds.
For reservations, you may send a check for the number of tickets desired, the date of performance, and a phone number to attention of Randy Lowery at the Morris Theatre Guild, Inc., 516 West Illinois Ave (Canalport Community Center), Morris, IL 60450, You can also e-mail Randy at rlowery@xnet.com, call (815) 287-2127, or visit online at the guild’s Web site at morristheatreguild.com.
Reservation cut-off date is at noon Wednesday, March 24. All ticket money is to be received by the guild before the last performance begins.
For house buyouts or other information, call the theatre at (815) 942-1966.
Hay Fever is presented with permission from Samuel French, Inc., to whom royalties are paid. Morris Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit community theatre.
