George Feydeau's A Flea in Her Ear made such a splash at Houston's Alley Theatre 10 years ago that the company has decided to revive the revival. Artistic director Gregory Boyd directs the Alley's resident company in the classic farce, opening Feb. 28.
James Black (Not About Nightingales) stars as Victor-Emmanuel Chandebise, the husband put to the test with an anonymous love letter by his suspicious wife Raymonde, played by Kimberly King. When the innocent Chandebise sends his lothario friend Romain Tournel (Todd Waite) to the Pink Pussy Cat Hotel in his stead, mistaken identities and chance meetings betweens husbands and wives and wives and lovers dissolves into comic chaos. One of the greatest writers of farce, Feydeau's works include Le Dindon, La Dame de Chez Maxim and On Purge Bebe.
Other Alley resident company members featured in the cast are James Belcher (Finache), Bettye Fitzpatrick (Olympe), Elizabeth Heflin (Lucienne), Paul Hope (Etienne), Charles Krohn (Feraillon), Ty Mayberry (Rugby), David Rainey (Baptistin), Laura Heisler (Eugenie), Teri Lamm (Antoinette), Noble Shropshire (Don Homenides) and Jaimson Stern (Camille).
Designing the play are Tony Straiges (sets), Kevin Rigdon (lighting), Jeanne Button (costumes) and Malcolm Nicholls (sound).
Performances began Feb. 23 for a run through March 24. Tickets to A Flea in Her Ear are $49-$19. The Alley Theatre is located at 615 Texas Avenue. For reservations, call (713) 228-8421 or (800) 259-ALLE. The Alley Theatre is on the web at http://www.alleytheatre.com. -- By Christine Ehren
