Categories: Curtain Call

A Flea in her Ear Will Keep You Laughing

By John Farrell, Curtain Call Writer

If you can only see one play in the next few months, Feydeau’s brilliant turn-of-the century farce A Flea in her Ear, at the Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage Theater, is the one to see.

It isn’t elegantly presented. In fact, the setting is simple; even a bit sever. But the acting is funny, hilariously funny, from the first few seconds through nearly three hours of antics that take place in a private house where love has become a problem, with every moment filled with amusement, laughter and hilarity.

The cast climbs the furniture, dodges through locked and unlocked doors and even jumps out of a conveniently placed window.

The director, James Rice, who has worked recently at Little Fish Theatre, turns the difficult Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage Theater into an effective place for lively comedy, with plenty of doors provided by stage designer David Scaglione and other details such as a revolving hidden bed.

The cast, which includes Bill Wolski in a hilarious double role and his wife Holly Baker-Kreiswirth in a starring role, is large. There is Stephen Alan Carver as a suave Doctor Finache, the comically dynamic Lee Samuel Tanng as Camille, whose inability to speak consonants makes it hilariously difficult to understand, and Kate Woodruff as Yvonne Chandel, who starts all the trouble with a secret note to her husband.

The play begins when Victor Emmanuel (Wolski’s first role) neglects his wife Yvonne and she thinks he is cheating. She decides her best friend Lucienne should write him a flirtatious note, inviting him to a rendezvous at the Pretty Pussy Inn. It grows and grows through mistaken identity to gunshots and a finale where everything comes together happily, at least for the moment. There is nothing deep here, just Gallic wit and a hotel with too many doors.

Tickets are $24, $21 for seniors and  $14 for students. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through May 11.

Details: (562) 494-1014www.lbplayhouse.org
Venue: Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage Theater
Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach

Terelle Jerricks

During his two decade tenure, he has investigated, reported on, written and assisted with hundreds of stories related to environmental concerns, affordable housing, development that exacerbates wealth inequality and the housing crisis, labor issues and community policing or the lack thereof.

Recent Posts

County to Protect Medi-Cal and CalFresh Access for 1.7 Million Residents Amid New Federal Work Requirements

The motion also calls for the expansion of workfare and volunteer opportunities across county departments…

18 hours ago

Governors Briefs: CalRx® Insulin, $11 a Pen, Will Soon be Available and Appointment Announced

This launch marks a significant step in the state's ongoing effort to lower prescription drug…

19 hours ago

Purdue Student Paper Shows Solidarity With Rival

  After the Indiana University Media School fired its director of student media and banned…

19 hours ago

POLA Lead Attorney Steve Otera Named Corporate Counsel of the Year by LA Business Journal

  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Business Journal has given a top legal honor…

20 hours ago

Ports Briefs: POLB Cargo Slows as Clean Truck Study and Air Quality Report Highlight Progress

The Final 2024 Class 8 Drayage Truck Feasibility Assessment Report focuses on battery electric and…

23 hours ago

Public Health Investigating Possible Local Spread of Clade I Mpox; Third Case Confirmed in Los Angeles County

So far in 2025, Public Health has reported 118 cases of clade II mpox.

2 days ago