A Flea in her Ear: Kanata theatre presents a crowd pleaser

Georges Feydeau’s 1907 farce, La Puce à l’oreille — A Flea in her Ear — has frequently been cited as one of the best examples of the genre and the model for many later comedies, incorporating sexual innuendo, mistaken identity, frantic ction, doors and more doors.

The style requires precise timing, fast movements and character changes and must never slow down enough to allow an audience to consider how ridiculous the plot is.

For the most part, under the meticulous direction of Jim Holmes, the fast-paced Kanata Theatre production meets the criteria in its whirlwind presentation of A Flea in Her Ear.

Only the necessary but lengthy and laboured set change in Act II brings the action to a grinding halt for too long. (Lighter set pieces that do not require an army of stagehands might have helped here.) The other visual distraction in generally effective sets is the odd colouring of the double doors in the centre of the stage, which gives the impression that designers ran out of paint.

However, these are relatively minor criticisms in view of the particularly fine performances from Dale MacEachern in the dual role of the straight-laced Victor and the drunken porter Poche and from Kenny Hayes as the randy young man with a severe speech impediment. The high-energy performance by Ron Miller as the crazed Spaniard Don Carlos and the clear characterization of his wife, Lucienne, by Lorraine McInnis-Osborne are also very effective.

The major issue with this generally strong production is the choice of translation. The John Mortimer version is subtler in its use of double entendre and more faithful to the tone of the period. By comparison, David Ives’ 2006 adaptation (albeit an award-winning version) relies on crudity and seems to have thrown the ‘double’ aspect of double entrendre out of the window.

Admittedly, the plot is sparked by Victor’s apparent sudden lack of sexual interest in his wife, Raymonde (a competent characterization by Melissa McCallum) and a third of the action takes place in a brothel-style hotel, but this is more rather than less reason to make the jokes and actions about sex less obvious.

Having said this, it must also be acknowledged that the majority of the audience reacted much more positively than I to the script and clearly enjoyed the bubble of the production.

A Flea in Her Ear continues at Kanata Theatre to May 25.

 

Director: Jim Holmes

Set: Susan Phillips, Jim Holmes

Sound: Gerry Thompson

Lighting: Kenny Hayes

Costumes: Mary Holmes and Marilyn Valiquette

Cast:

Etienne……………………………..Troy Page

Antoinette………………………….Lynda De Guire

Camille……………………………..Kenny Hayes

Dr. Finache…………………………Bruce Rayfuse

Lucienne……………………………Lorraine McInnis-Osborne

Raymonde…………………………. Melissa McCallum

Victor/Poche………………………..Dale MacEachern

Don Carlos………………………….Ron Miller

Ferraillon……………………………Bernie Horton

Eugenie………………………………Megan Carly

Olympia……………………………..Melanie Anderson

Baptiste………………………………Ron Henry

Rugby………………………………..Martin Weeden