‘Flea’ is a riotous ride
Dink O’Neal
With such a riotously funny roller coaster of a show on their hands,
A Noise Within’s producers really should offer a seat belt with every
ticket to Georges Feydeau’s “A Flea In Her Ear.”
A superb cast of 15, under the expert co-direction of Geoff
Elliott and Julia Rodriguez Elliott, mines comic gold as it whisks us
along on a breakneck ride.
Like any good farce, this tale of a wife’s suspicious mind sets
the wheels in motion. Before long, chaos reigns supreme as mistaken
identities and door-slamming fun accelerate the story line.
As Yvonne Chandel, the plotting wife, Dorthea Harahan is a perky
confection. Her friend, Lucienne, smartly portrayed by Jill Hill,
aids in penning an anonymous letter requesting a rendezvous with
Yvonne’s husband.
Stephen Weingartner, a master of instantaneous costume changes,
plays both the loyal yet unsuspecting spouse, Victor, as well as a
bumbling hotel porter whose twin-like resemblance adds further
clowning to the proceedings.
Perfectly delivered supporting roles include Mark Bramhall’s
stylish doctor, William Dennis Hunt in the near cameo role of a
decrepitly rheumatic hotel guest and Michael Manuel as the wickedly
sadistic owner of the inn.
One could say Richard Soto’s gangster-like take on the part of
Lucienne’s jealous Spaniard of a husband is the peak of perfection
with his hot-blooded rants and threats. But for scene-stealing
pleasure, look no further than Louis Lotorto’s fall down funny
embodiment of Victor’s cousin/secretary, Camille, scripted as having
a cleft palate.
With only three performances left in this must-see show’s extended
run, tickets for this runaway voyage will be going fast.