Hay Fever, Noel Coward’s most famous play will arrive in the West End in April of this year, flying into the Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited run of three months.
Felicity Kendal will reprise her staring role in Lindsay Posner’s acclaimed revival that was first seen at the Bath Theatre Royal in July 2014. The production then went on complete a hugely successful Australian tour.
Felicity Kendal is best know for her role in the 1975 BBC comedy television series The Good Life, but the 68 year old actress has appeared in the West End in Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw, Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn, and The Vortex by Noel Coward.
Set in a grand English country house in the 1920’s, Hay Fever tells the story of a retired actress named Judith (Felicity Kendal) who presides over the notorious Bliss family. This competitive family unit is comprised of husband David, a self-centred writer, and Simon and Sorel, their two free-loving adult children. Each want to be centre stage, but there is only ever room for one star in the Bliss family.
Full casting will be announced shortly, but odds are that the original leading cast of Michael Simkins and Simon Shepherd, that played alongside Felicity Kendal, will reprise their roles for the West End transfer.
The West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre’s acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Gypsy has been confirmed for a 35 week run, starting 30 March 2014.