Hay Fever: The Vortex Fallen Angels Easy Virtue - Unveiling World Classics

Hay Fever, The Vortex, Fallen Angels, and Easy Virtue are timeless plays that belong to the world of classics. Written by British playwright Noël Coward during the early 20th century, these plays have stood the test of time and continue to captivate audiences around the world.

A scene from the play 'Hay Fever'

The Allure of Hay Fever

Hay Fever, first performed in 1925, takes place in the country house of the eccentric Bliss family. With their bohemian lifestyle and unconventional behavior, the Blisses are a quirky bunch. The play explores the dynamics of the Bliss family when they each invite a guest for a weekend getaway, leading to chaos and hilarity.

Coward Plays: 1: Hay Fever; The Vortex; Fallen Angels; Easy Virtue (World Classics)

by Joseph Bathanti(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1380 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	322 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The characters in Hay Fever are larger than life, with their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities making them endearing and relatable. From the melodramatic actress mother to the self-absorbed novelist father, each character adds their own layers of complexity to the story.

The Vortex: A Tale of Addiction and Relationships

The Vortex, premiered in 1924, delves into the melodramatic lives of a glamorous mother, Florence Lancaster, and her troubled son, Nicky. Set in the decadent world of the 1920s London society, the play explores themes of addiction, extramarital affairs, and failed relationships.

The Vortex generated controversy at the time due to its frank portrayal of drug addiction and the impact it has on relationships. It broke new ground by shedding light on the darker aspects of human behavior, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.

A still from the play 'Fallen Angels'

Fallen Angels: A Comedy of Errors

Fallen Angels, written in 1925, follows the shenanigans of two close friends, Julia and Jane, who find themselves caught in a whimsical love triangle when an old flame arrives unexpectedly. The play explores the rekindling of past desires and the challenges faced by married women in society.

Fallen Angels showcases Coward's sharp wit and gift for comedic timing. The audience is taken on a hilarious journey as the two women panic and try to maintain their composure while their past mistakes catch up with them.

Easy Virtue: Love, Scandal, and Society

Easy Virtue, written in 1924, tells the story of a young British man, John, who marries Larita, an American woman with a scandalous past. When the couple returns to England, Larita struggles to fit into British society, facing judgment and prejudice from her in-laws and the upper class.

The play challenges societal norms and highlights the hypocrisy prevalent in the upper-class society of the time. Easy Virtue offers a thought-provoking commentary on the limitations placed on women and the consequences of societal expectations.

World Classics: Timeless Entertainment

These plays by Noël Coward have earned their place as world classics due to their enduring themes, brilliant wit, and dialogue that transcends time. They continue to be performed and enjoyed by theater enthusiasts, reaffirming their impact on the world of literature and entertainment.

Whether it's the chaotic humor of Hay Fever, the poignant exploration of addiction in The Vortex, the comedic mishaps in Fallen Angels, or the social commentary of Easy Virtue, these plays offer a glimpse into different aspects of human nature and society.

Experience the Magic

If you have not yet experienced the world of Coward's plays, now is the perfect time to delve into these masterpieces. Whether you attend a live performance or read the scripts, you are bound to be engrossed in the captivating stories and the timeless themes they present.

So, get ready to immerse yourself in the comedic chaos, emotional depth, and thought-provoking narratives of Hay Fever, The Vortex, Fallen Angels, and Easy Virtue. These world classics have stood the test of time and will continue to mesmerize audiences for generations to come.

Coward Plays: 1: Hay Fever; The Vortex; Fallen Angels; Easy Virtue (World Classics)

by Joseph Bathanti(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1380 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	322 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

This first volume in the Coward Collection contains four plays written within a two year period when Coward
and the century were still in their 20s. The volume is introduced by Sheridan Morley,
Coward's first biographer.

Hay Fever, a comedy of bad
manners, concerns a weekend with friends of the Bliss family, who have
all been invited independently for a weekend at their country house
near Maidenhead. The Vortex
was a controversial drama in its time, introducing drug-addiction onto
the stage at a time when alcoholism was barely mentioned. Fallen Angels, which is written for two star actresses
was described as 'degenerate', 'vile', 'obscene', 'shocking' - the
second half of the play is entirely taken up with an alcoholic duologue
between the two women. Easy Virtue is an elegant, laconic tribute to a
lost world of drawing-room dramas, no other writer went more directly
to the jugular of that moralistic, tight-lipped but fundamentally
hypocritical 20s society.

"He is simply a phenomenon, and one that is unlikely to occur ever
again in theatre history" Terence Rattigan