Noel Coward's HAY FEVER Opens 4/19 at BFT

For the fifth production of BFT's landmark 40th anniversary season, director Ellise Mayor has assembled a talent-rich cast, with Barclee Woods, Jonathan Sweatt, Debbie Smith, Camille Spratling, Russell Jones, David Gregson, Jane Caswell, as well as Birmingham favorites Sam Chalker  and Linda Nelson.  

Hay Fever is a period piece, set in a 1920s English country home, and the tone is pure Coward: witty, histrionic, full of bad manners and fabulous mannerisms. Written by a 24-year-old Coward over a weekend in 1924 and playing for more than 300 performances in its original Broadway run, this comedy builds to a fever pitch of inappropriate impoliteness with each act's curtain, and the final blackout should leave audiences gasping with laughter.

Mayor's cast weaves in and around each other through witty repartee, cynical banter, and hilarious confusion, all with wonderful comedic timing. And lest one thinks this is simply a slapstick comedy of errors, Coward's gift with subtle satire makes this play as timely as it is timeless, giving Hay Fever a wry grin as well as a loud guffaw. 

April 19: Free opening night reception after the show
April 26: Pay What You Can Afford ($7 minimum)
April 27: Talk-back with the cast after the show
April 29: Matinee at 2 pm

 Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students or groups of ten or more, except for Pay What You Can Afford night on April 26 with a $7 minimum. Tickets may be reserved by phone at (205) 933-2383; for more information, visit www.bftonline.org.