And the madness begins...
Fresno State theatre department kicks off 2004-2005 season
with 'Hay Fever,' plans for shows to cover various themes
By Eisa Al Nashmi
The Blisses are a mad, crazy, ill-mannered and dramatic family. Call
them whatever you want, but they’re certainly not average.
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The Bliss family lives in a home where personalities
are at battle. David Bliss (Adam McGee), with wife Judith
Bliss (Amanda Coy) and son Simon Bliss (Ryan Tacata) just can't
seem to agree on anything. Photos by Emily Tuck |
All four members of the Bliss family will come to life tonight when Hay
Fever, a comedy about what happens when a weekend getaway with the family
goes awry, kicks off the 2004-2005 University Theatre season tonight at
8 p.m.
Set in 1920’s England, a period of great change in terms of roles
of men and women, style, fashion and music, Hay Fever is a comedy of bad
manners, said Kathleen McKinley, theatre arts department chair and director
of the play.
“The Bliss’ home is a laboratory for human behavior where
everything is an experiment,” she said.
“They make up their own unique approach of entertaining.”
McKinley said productions like Hay Fever are the labs for theatre arts
students, where they have the opportunity to put what they learn into
practice.
| 
Sophomore theatre arts major Jacque Babb gets ready for dress rehearsal
as Myra Arundel, a young lady with a wandering eye for handsome
men. |
“It is quick-paced, heightened, flamboyant and filled with high
drama,” said McKinley, who chose to direct Hay Fever because of
the unique style of acting involved.
McKinley likens Hay Fever’s characters to those of NBC’s “Fraiser.”
“Everything is intense, they react strongly, and that’s what
makes the play so funny,” McKinley said.
Amanda Coy plays the part of Judith Bliss, a mother of two and retired
actress who decides to get back to the stage.
“I love my part,” Coy said. “She is big, glamorous and
extravagant.”
Coy’s character loves the attention she gets from young men who
are fascinated with actresses, so she decides to invite a young, good-looking
boxer, played by Cody Andrus, to her family’s weekend house.
Andrus said his character, Sandy, is similar to Joey from NBC’s
sitcom “Friends.”
“He is cute, nice and sweet but very dumb,” he said.
Sandy gets to the house thinking he will hook-up with Judith Bliss, but
she completely forgets about him and they both find themselves in new
unexpected romances.
McKinley said students are not only involved in acting, but others work
in the design and technology areas of the production.
Design includes costume, make-up, lighting, sound and set design, and
technology involves implementing the designs—the actual building
of the set and programming the lighting and sound.
“We have lots of hands-on experiences for the design and technology
areas,” McKinley said. “Students are gaining the theory and
skill to have a career in theatre.”
Hay Fever will be the first of six plays this year—three each semester.
| 
It takes time to look unkempt. Junior Nicole Upton puts stubble
on sophomore Ryan Tacata for a scene in which his character, Simon
Bliss, hasn't shaved in days. |
McKinley said the department decided to start the season with the comedic
Hay Fever. At the end of October, “Extremities,” a hard-hitting,
intense realist piece about a woman who is almost raped and decides to
take revenge, will take center stage.
“Rhinoceros,” an absurd non-realist piece about people turning
into rhinoceros is also on the bill for the 2004-2005 season.
In the spring semester, the department will present a Neil Simon Broadway
production, a contemporary dance performance and a classical Shakespeare
play.
“No two productions are similar,” McKinley said of the lineup.
“That’s one of our goals: to expose both our students and
university community to a wide variety of genres.”
As for the preparation of Hay Fever, Andrus said rehearsals run Sunday
through Thursday and have been intense.
All characters had to accustom themselves to speaking in a British accent,
which was not easy to do, Andrus said.
“The dedication of the student actors was amazing. It was beyond
what many people expected,” McKinley said of the students’
effort.
McKinley said she hopes the students come out of this experience feeling
stronger and more confident as actors.
“The production is a vehicle for their learning but also entertaining
for the audience,” McKinley said.
Coy said the play deserves the hard-work everyone in.
“I want the audience to walk away with smiles saying, ‘that
was the best show ever,’” she said.
Hay Fever will play at the John Wright Theatre in the Speech Arts Building
from Oct. 1 to Oct. 9 beginning tonight.
Tickets are on sale now at the box office in the Speech Arts Building
and online at www.csufresno.edu/theatre.
Tickets are $7 for students, $12 for faculty, staff, alumni and seniors,
and $14 for the general public.
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