Hay Fever

Act One

As the play opens, Simon and Sorel Bliss are engaged in light-hearted sibling banter, mocking each other’s lifestyle and choices of friends. They remark that their mother has been busy out in the garden all day, which is unusual behavior for her, and wonder if she is trying to impress a young man. Sorel worries that her mother has invited someone to stay, as she has invited over a diplomat, Richard Greatham, from London. Judith Bliss comes in from the garden, trying to remember the names of the flowers she has just been looking at. She confirms that she has invited Sandy Tyrell to stay for the weekend. Judith is disgruntled that Sorel has also invited a guest without telling her. As Sorel and Judith bicker gently about who will sleep where, Simon casually informs them that he has also invited his friend, Myra Arundel, to stay for the weekend, Judith is furious as she dislikes Myra intensely. As all three begin to argue, David Bliss comes down the stairs, wondering what all the