Yale Repertory Theater will celebrate Noel Coward's centennial in 1999 with one of his best-known comedies, Hay Fever, the story of the self-absorbed Bliss family and the chaos they create over an English country weekend. Yale Rep Artistic Director Stan Wojewodski will direct the production, which plays April 29-May 22.

The cast for Wojewodski's Fever includes Mary Beth Peil, Larry Pine (Bus Stop at Circle in the Square), Matthew Greer, Alexa Fischer, Laura Esterman (Marvin's Room), Tessa Auberjonois, Mark Deklin, Ronald Dean Nolen and Mary Fogarty.

Hay Fever tells of one rainy weekend at the country retreat of the Bliss family. Judith Bliss, a famous actress, isn't having an easy time going into rertirement, while her husband, David, is a novelist trying to finish his latest book. Judith, David, and their grown children, unknown to the others, each invite a guest for a little romantic liaison. Trapped inside by pouring rain, the guests are unwillingly drafted into the family's wargames. The play was based in part upon Coward's travels to New York in 1922.

Coward's centennial will also be marked in New York this-coming season, with a Broadway production of his Waiting in the Wings, set to open on the playwright's birthday.

The 1998-99 season is Wojewodski's eighth as artistic director of Yale ep Rand Dean of Yale School of Drama. Previous productions include Pentecost, First Lady, The Adventures of Amy Bock, Oleanna, The Baltimore Waltz, and numerous plays by Eric Overmyer. For tickets to Hay Fever call (203) 432-1234.

-- By Sean McGrath