The Blisses, despite living in the same house, proclaim themselves to be an “independent family”—that is, a family in which each member entertains their friends separately. But the large house starts feeling surprisingly small when it turns out that they’ve each invited a different guest down for the same weekend. The family’s surprise, however, is nothing compared to that of its guests, whose idealized view of what the life of the famous Blisses must be like is shattered in a whirl of family intrigue and unexpected situations.

Hay Fever followed Noël Coward’s breakthrough hit The Vortex , and was a return to his light comedy roots. Coward’s dry style of humor, combined with observations of his contemporary set, ensured that it was well reviewed, although it was seen as somewhat lightweight. Its enduring appeal has ensured that stage revivals continue to this day.