by Adrienne Proctor
3rd Act Theatre Company in Oklahoma City opens their second production of season four. Hay Fever by Noel Coward is directed by Don Taylor and stage managed by Michelle Hall. Originally scheduled to open September 9th, COVID cancellations pushed opening to September 16th. Hay Fever is a comedy of manners from the 1920s. Self-centered members of the Bliss family each invite guests to the family home, an English country house in Cookham, Berkshire. They get so wrapped up in family drama that they don’t pay any attention to their guests, and chaos erupts in this comedic farce.
3rd Act once again has found a stellar cast to portray each character in this ensemble piece. The family is made up of Reed Bentley as Simon Bliss, Lindsay Seaman as Sorel Bliss, Deborah Franklin as Judith Bliss, and Eddie Gert as David Bliss. Adam Park is Sandy, Maddie Loury is Jackie, Joe Burleigh is Richard, Elizabeth Garrison is Myra, and Robin Robinson is Clara.
The bright, inviting set (shown above) is designed by Don Taylor. Dani Becker serves as Board Liaison. Amandanell Bold designs costumes and lighting, while Dakota Lee Bryant is Sound Designer and Assistant Lighting Designer. Jamie Brewster designs props.
Inspired by true events and characters from the playwright’s life, The Bliss family is over-the-top and out of touch, zeroing in on their own lives and missing the larger world around them. These types of stylized plays are always fun and comical, and 3rd Act has seen great success with previous productions of similar tales. Exaggeration is the name of the game, and audiences can expect to see plot twists and general hilarity around every turn.
When asked what he was most looking forward to about this production, Board President Dakota Bryant said “I am most excited for audiences to get to enjoy Noel Coward’s wit melded with the true comic timing that is a Don Taylor production. The humor will keep you entertained, while the fine-tuned cast of Oklahoma Community Artists play and dally with ease!”
With a mix of both familiar and new faces, Hay Fever will delight audiences and welcome new and loyal fans alike to 3rd Act’s main venue in The Shoppes at North Park.
Hay Fever runs September 16th-25th, 2022 at The Shoppes at North Park. Pay-what-you-can pricing is available for each opening night performance in Season 4. 3A is now presenting all works live on stage, with no streaming performances this season. Masks are required for patrons in the space.
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