Farce Comes to Hedgerow Theatre with A FLEA IN HER EAR, Now thru 4/28

Fans of the popular summer farces at Hedgerow Theatre have a treat in store, as the theatre is offering two different shows in the genre this year, starting with Georges Feydeau's classic A Flea in Her Ear from tonight, March 14 to April 28 and a second in the traditional July and August spot on the schedule.

Updated to paris in the 1970's, Feydeau's masterpiece involves a series of misunderstandings, mistaken identities and madcap chases. The mayhem begins when a woman (played by Producing Artistic Director Penelope Reed) suspects her husband (Reed's real-life husband Zoran Kovcic) may be unfaithful because the romance has gone out of their marriage. She and a friend devise a plan to catch him in the act, setting off a chain of hilarious events with wacky characters that include jealous spouses, a lusty bachelor, a hotel owner, a maid, and a hotel porter who happens to look exactly like the woman's husband.

"We love Feydeau because he's the grandmaster of modern farce," explained Hedgerow's Associate Artistic Director JaRed Reed, who's directing the production. "He moved away from
slapstick to development of character and story, building multiple plots that get crazier and crazier as they merge. It's a different feel than the ones written by Ray Cooney, whose farces we've done in the summer, but anyone who's enjoyed those shows should also like Feydeau. In fact, Cooney is known as the 'British Feydeau'."

Like almost all of Feydeau's plays, A Flea in Her Ear has three acts, so there will be two intermissions. "The acts are short," Reed noted, "so the play isn't longer than usual. And there are 15 characters, so it allows us to have a larger cast than we normally do, so it's great fun. We got a really fabulous group of actors together, including our company members and some newcomers, and we've been having a wonderful time in rehearsals trying to nail down the 'Swiss watch timing' of Feydeau's comedy."

Following a preview tonight, March 14 at 7:30 p.m., shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; at 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through April 28. There are also two Wednesday matinees scheduled for March 27 and April 17 at 2 p.m.

Adult ticket prices for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are $32, Thursday shows are $29, and Wednesday matinees are $25. There is a $3 discount for seniors; tickets for students with valid ID and children under 18 are $10. Previews are $20, and no other discounts apply. For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for seniors. Prices include all fees and are subject to change. For reservations, call 610-565-4211, or visit www.hedgerowtheatre.org. Hedgerow Theatre, America's First Repertory Theatre, is at 64 Rose Valley Road, in Rose Valley (near Media).

Pictured: Mahogany Walker, Penelope Reed, Zoran Kovcic and Joel Guerrero.

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