Joe Brack, Katie Atkinson, and Heather Haney in "A Flea in Her Ear," photo courtesy of Constellation Theatre Company

Missing suspenders, snapped frilly garters, a revolving bed, a man who can’t pronounce his consonants – Georges Feydeau’s “A Flea in Her Ear” takes some uptight French aristocrats and rattles them around in the Frisky Puss Hotel. It’s a tightly constructed “bedroom farce” that Constellation Theatre Company attacks with frenetic physical comedy. Lots of scenery is chewed in this production, but that’s a good thing!

Woeful Raymonde Chandebise (a sprightly Katie Atkinson) suspects her husband is unfaithful, because he’s stopped fulfilling his conjugal duties. Until she solves the mystery of his failed desire, she can’t rest – and certainly can’t take a lover until her mind is at ease! Devising a ruse with best friend Lucienne (Heather Haney, butter wouldn’t melt) to catch her husband in the act, she sets off a series of wildly implausible and ever more ridiculous situations of mistaken identity. Don’t bother trying to keep track of it all, just let the riot take over.

Anchored by a strong cast all showing great vocal and physical command, the production is clearly rooted in the world of farce. I honestly laughed to tears at several points. It makes for a truly hysterical night at the theater.

Director Allison Arkell Stockman has encouraged a top-notch ensemble cast to go over the top, and it results in some brilliantly funny performances. I always hate to highlight individuals when an ensemble is so good, but… Michael Glenn has the luck of portraying both the imperious Victor Chandebise and blatantly goofy bellboy Poche, completely dedicated to each ridiculous turn. Matt McGloin is outstanding as the hapless Camille, a man doomed to speak with no consonants. And Joe Brack plays loverboy Romain Tournel as if Errol Flynn were possessed by the Cheshire Cat.

The feverish physical comedy reaches a crescendo in the very funny second and third acts, punctuated by outlandish one-liners and frisky innuendo. My only two quibbles were that with actors reaching further and further over the top, sometimes there isn’t anywhere higher for them to go – and with two intermisions and a running time of just under three hours, it’s a long evening for a comedy. But, I’m not sure how much you could cut out and not lose the complicated plot or every character’s moment in the comic sun. These are small quibbles for an engaging company, and I look forward to seeing more.

So, a little depressed with the change of season? Overworked and looking for something frivolous and light-hearted? This is it, far better than therapy.

A Flea in Her Ear
Now through November 8
Constellation Theatre Company
at Source
1835 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.204.7741

Jenn Larsen

As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.