THEATER REVIEW: 'A Flea in Her Ear'
I've become a pretty big Magnus Chhan fan recently. Rail-thin in appearance and gentle in stage demeanor, this biology/theater double major at Fresno City College has really spiffed up the last two plays I've seen him in. First there was his hilariously low-key turn in Fresno City College's "Jack Goes Boating." (You can see him in a photo from that play on the jump.) And now, he takes one of the cleverest gimmicks in the college's new production of "A Flea in Her Ear" and cheerfully keeps the laughs coming.
Chhan's turn as Camille Chandebise -- a character who, alas, cannot pronounce his consanants, which makes him sound more mushy mouthed than Marlon Brando in "The Island of Dr. Moreau" -- is one of the highlights of David Ives' adaptation of Georges Feydeau's classic French farce. Other strong components of the show include a wacky production design and some well-calibrated comic performances.
Still, "Flea" is not as madcap and fluid as I'd have hoped. It's a little lackluster when it comes to the farce department. Director Debbi Shapazian comes close at times to reaching the zany impact that the play needs, but the overall impact is much more cute than giddy.
The action is set in 1910 Paris, where we meet a well-to-do businessman, Victor Chandebise (Ricci Mazzucca), and his wife, Raymonde (Paulette Alatriste). She's convinced that her husband is having an affair and decides to test his fidelity. Like many a farce, a forged letter sets in motion a chain of events: this one being a seductive proposal written to Victor from an "anonymous" admirer (actually, it's done by Raymonde's best friend, Lucienne, played by Jochebed Smith) asking him to rendezvous at the Frisky Puss Hotel.
What follows is suppposed to be cheery bedlam: mistaken identities, crossed signals, unwise assumptions, bizarre supporting characters, unexpected Doppelgangers. Plus lots of running in and out of gaudy hotel rooms and slamming doors. Ives offers a myriad of juicy puns and silly quips. ("No wrist for the wicked," one character is assured.) This new adaptation, which Ives (who wrote the popular "All in the Timing" one-act plays that had the Rogue Festival so smitten) completed just a few years ago, has a modern, punchy feel.
But while the language is updated, the play still seems a little archaic. The play's three acts have a top-heavy feel, and the third act, in particular, tends to bog down. Shapazian tries to keep the pacing as brisk as she can, but there's something about the play's very structure that reduces the farcical impact. Amy Querin's choreography and movement rarely comes across as light and lively as it needs to be.
Christopher R. Boltz's low-budget but accomplished scenic design helps mitigate some of the sluggishness, however. With a color palette of reds and pinks that reminded me of the colors of those little "Be Mine" candy hearts, the clever set has a madcap visual feel. (The trick bed in Room 5 is a hoot, though I have to admit that I never did figure out why an old man with rheumatoid arthritis is a standard feature at the Frisky Puss Hotel.) Shapazian's costumes are gloriously wacky and lively -- not in the least period fussy, but fun. Eric Gomez's hair design is wild and just a touch brazen -- again, perfectly appropriate for the material.
Standout cast members besides Chhan include a regal Alatriste as Raymonde, a blustery Mazzucca in a challenging dual role, a perky Smith as Lucienne, a lively Marcos Hammer as a flamboyant Don Carlos and a slick and funny Sam Munger as Romain Tournel. They're responsible for some of the show's sharpest points of hilarity.
One more thing: While I hate to jab at a show's finale/curtain call, the stylized movement involved in that choreographed endeavor just doesn't work. Blending the drawn-out goofiness with actual bows had the effect of coming across as sluggish and uninspired. Making something like this work at a non-musical is very hard -- it's as if you have to recast the whole vibe of the show at the very last possible minute, and unless you do something so perfectly executed and exhilharating that it simply wows the audience into submission, it's a tough thing to pull off.
Below: Magnus Chhan, far right, in the 2008 production of "Jack Goes Boating."
Comments:
Donald, you haven't even gotten to work with Magnus!! As amazing as he is onstage, it's just amazing to be in a cast with him.
He once joked there are only 3 kinds of roles for Asian-American actors: shows about the Vietnam War; magic; or woodland creatures. (To paint a picture, he was telling me this in a wolf unitard). I'm happy to hear he's proven himself wrong. Because he makes every show (and every dressing room!!) "magic."
Can't wait to see this one!!
Posted by: Ashley at March 10, 2009 6:53 PM
I was able to see this show on Saturday, and I must agree, Magnus Chhan, Marcos Hammer, and Jochebed Smith were some real comedic highlights. Ricci did a swell job as well, bringing a sense of deeper character development, that at times, enjoyably contrast some of the other cast members. I've seen many plays at Fresno City College and it's always nice to see some fresh faces, and actors return in bigger roles, such as Sam Munger, who I believe I remember from Importance of Being Earnest, and Paulette Alatriste from Living Out a while back. We've been quoting this play for days! "I will suicide you!" Hoots!
Posted by: anon at March 10, 2009 11:42 PM
Magnus Chhan was freakin awesome, his character was hilarious! I too have also become a big Magnus Chhan fan! Marcos hammer was not too far behind:)
Posted by: Jasmin Cossio at March 11, 2009 11:13 PM
Magnus is an awesome actor he has really big talents and he's going to go far in the acting world!!!
Posted by: andrea at March 12, 2009 10:08 AM
I must contribute to all of this Magnus Chhan (and now Marcos Hammer) worship. First of all I want to completely disagree with everything that has been said thus far in regards to M. Chhan (and now M. Hammer). I have had the "opprotunity" of directing both M & M in productions at City College and I can promise you that neither M nor M are funny or inventive or in any way a pleasure to direct. If the truth be told most of the theatre faculty are waiting for both M and M to graduate (Although no faculty member has explicitly expressed this sentiment to me, I am sure it is true. I can't be absolutely confident that other faculty loathe M and M as much as I do, but I can sense the dislike for M and M in other faculty members when either M or M's names are mentiond. The look on the faculty members face is hard to describe...so I won't. Suffice to say the expression is not attractive). Anyway, I felt I needed to put all this "Magnus, this" and "Marcos that" worship to rest. I know this is a harsh judgment but we're all adults here! So, please let's move on to something else!
Thank you,
Chuck Erven
FCC Theatre Arts
Posted by: Chuck Erven at March 12, 2009 3:05 PM
hey chuck,
if you're going to dish dirt, then be specific. to lob a "I hate them and so does everyone else" grenade without specifics sounds a little too much like Corky St Clair. Chhan's in a good role and he does it well. when was the last time your work was lauded so?
Posted by: john at March 12, 2009 9:43 PM
First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone on behalf the cast and crew, that has come out to support the show. The whole cast and I really appreciate it. We really hope everyone was able to enjoy their outing with us. We are all very grateful for the positive feedback and appreciate it very much and it means the world to us.
Secondly, I know Chuck well enough to know that his post was a joke. I had a good laugh while reading the wonderfully crafted satirical assessment of Marcos and I. I have great love and respect for the man and his work and he is just a stand up guy.
I do agree with the point he was trying to get across though. That being that there were a lot of other talented and hard working people on the cast and crew that definitely deserve praise as well. For example, I highly admire and respect the work ethic of Ricci Mazzucca and he has been a pleasure to work with.
I am very fortunate to be apart of such a warm, lively, and talented bunch of people and they have all made the show everything that it is and should be recognized as well and I am in their debt for making this a great show to be apart of and to watch. I owe it all to them!
There are only 3 shows left! I would love to each of those houses stuffed full! Please spread the word. Thank you, everyone.
My very best,
Magnus
P.S. See you at Poker night, Chuck ; )
Posted by: Magnus at March 13, 2009 9:48 AM
I was able to see the show on Friday night and I must say that, along with the actors doing a fantastic job, the choreography was very well done. The audience responded with great enthusiasm to the curtain call and to be quite honest, the dance was one of the funnest parts of the show.
Posted by: Syndi Kahiapo at March 13, 2009 9:39 PM
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