It's spring in London, but so little chance of experiencing actual hay fever, that we decided to take in a Noel Coward play by the same name.  It continues to be cold and windy and rainy.  We must be paying now for the pristine spring weather we had last year. The play, thanks to some outstanding special effects, even concluded with thunder and rain dripping down the outside of the set's windows. We had an excellent dinner in China Town, braving  huge umbrella-wielding crowds and the Chinese-only speaking staff at our restaurant.

Our play list so far:  Traveling Light (National Theatre), Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (National Theatre), Hay Fever (Noel Coward Theatre), and Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre).  Favorite thus far?  Moon on a Rainbow Shawl.  Set in Trinidad with a wonderful cast in the intimate Cottlesloe Theatre.  Least favorite thus far?  Matilda.  Long on spectacle and talent but short on coherent script and direction (despite excellent novel and film to work from).

Truth in advertising notice: the striking floppy red hat on the poster did not appear in the show, so hat fanciers be warned!  The understudy, a straw hat, was solid but much less sexy in the lead millinery role.