New World School of the Arts’ college theater students present the classic French farce, A Flea in Her Ear, by Georges Feydeau, translated by John Mortimer. This La Belle Époque play, written in 1907 and performed for the first time in the United States in 1967, is directed by NWSA faculty member James Randolph and features a cast comprised of 25 college students.
“Upon joining New World, I was thrilled to find that our first production of the year would be one with joy and laughter, something that the world definitely needs right now. A Flea in Her Ear is a gem of a piece, and the cast is having a blast. They’ll make you grin from ear to flea!”
Alan Patrick Kenny
An invitation-only VIP reception welcomes A Flea in Her Ear on October 14, at 6 PM at New World Gallery – 25 NE 2 Street, Lobby, Miami. The reception will offer guests the opportunity to meet the new NWSA Dean of Theater, Alan Patrick Kenny, before the show. The play opens on stage at 7:30 PM that same evening, at the Louise O. Gerrits Theater located on the 8th Floor of New World School of the Arts.
“A Flea in Her Ear is one of the great standards of the world theater. It is one of the purest examples of French farce that exists. Even though the play was first performed 100 years ago, it still has a lot of charm, grace, depth, and truth that is relevant today,” explained director Randolph. “This is the story of the 1% in French society people who have means – people who have a good deal of wealth but are no different than the rest of us; they are fed by the same wants, desires, passions, lusts, and fears that plague us all.”
The root of a seemingly conventional marriage, a bout of suspicion along with unexpected mistaken identity, leads the characters of this hilarious farce into a wild goose chase. Raymonde suspects her husband Victor of having an affair and, with the help of her friend Lucienne, decides to catch him in the act. Raymonde’s plot backfires, however, as Victor is only suffering from an emotional ailment that has nothing to do with her absurd suspicions. Meanwhile, bad timing, seduction and misunderstanding sets off a series of unfortunate events reeling-in colorful characters who chase each other through slamming doors and fly off spinning beds in the seedy Hotel Coq d’Or. The misunderstood Camille, a young man with a speech impediment, sets out to straighten the confusion but only worsens the situation. An alcoholic, a silver palate, a gun, and a doctor looking for love thicken the plot to a climatic state before the couple realizes the gravity of their mistaken suspicion and vow to go back to their most amorous basics.
The New World School of the Arts theater program is dedicated to the professional training of talented and committed students interested in pursuing a performing career in theater and music theater, offering students an opportunity to work in a hands-on intensive, physically demanding, artistically challenging and exciting environment. Guided by faculty who are professional actors, directors, playwrights and designers, the curriculum is a progressive journey toward the ownership of a personal technique and a comprehensive methodology of working. The faculty guides the student through the discovery and exploration of self, the learning of diverse techniques used in our craft, intensive rehearsal process, and finally the application of this knowledge into dramatic forms and styles in productions. The NWSA College BFA program culminates each year with showcases in Miami and in New York City. Information about the NWSA theater program is available by calling 305-237-3260.
A Florida center of excellence in the visual and performing arts, New World School of the Arts is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College, and University of Florida. NWSA provides a comprehensive program of artistic, creative, and academic development through a curriculum that reflects our community and the rich multicultural state of Florida. Through our partners NWSA confers the high school diploma, Associate of Arts degree, and Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees in programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, Music, Theater and Art & Design. NWSA’s rigorous eight-year curriculum and conservatory-style teaching has empowered students in our community and our nation to become leaders in the arts for more three decades.
Information about New World School of the Arts at 305-237-3135 or nwsa.mdc.edu.
A FLEA IN HER EAR
October 14; 7:30 PM
October 15; 7:30 PM
October 16; 2:00 PM
October 21; 7:30 PM
October 22; 7:30 PM
October 23; 2:00 PM
Louise O. Gerrits Theater
25 NE 2 Street, 8th Floor, Miami
General admission $12 / Students and seniors $5