12 Jun A FLEA IN HER EAR Closes OCTA’s 2018-2019 Season

Fantastic, French Farce with Contemporary Twist runs May 31-June 16

 

Olathe, KS (June 11, 2019) – Olathe Civic Theatre Association closes its 2019 season with the fast-paced farce, A FLEA IN HER EAR. Georges Feydeau’s farce, adapted by David Ives, is directed by David Martin. FLEA runs at Olathe Civic Theatre Association May 31-June 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

David Martin, a veteran actor and director at OCTA, describes the show as a traditional french farce set in modern times with contemporary twists. The leading lady, Raymonde, suspects her suddenly uninterested husband, Victor, is having an affair. Her solution is to cook up a trap to catch him in the act. Hilarity ensues as she and friend, Lucienne Homenides De Histangua, write a false love letter entreating Victor to join a mysterious admirer at the Frisky Puss Hotel. Everything inevitably goes horribly wrong, triggering laughs galore. Touted as the “greatest of French farces”, and winner of the 2006 Jefferson Award for best adaptation, FLEA achieves levels of glorious ridiculousness only an absurdist of Ives’ caliber can bring

OCTA audiences will love Martin’s take on mixed up lovers and those who (almost) get caught in the crossfire. “In deciding to set this show in present day, we are not seeking to make any comment on the current state of affairs in American politics. Think of this as an alternate universe Washington, D.C. along the lines of HOUSE OF CARDS… where powerful people meet, most of them are financially well off, and sex is a constant driving force in daily life. If that isn’t Washington, D.C., I don’t know what is.”

Martin attributes the success of the story to the technical brilliance of his design staff. The characters are hilarious, but the context of the flurry of activity is what makes the audience really chuckle. The Frisky Puss Hotel, where lovers come to meet, is the location of most of the frisky flurry. Audiences will be amazed to see how set designer, Bill Wright, worked with the rest of the creative team to construct a surprise two-story set on the OCTA stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cast of FLEA is as follows:

Victor Chandebise/Poche – Peter G. Leondedis
Raymonde Chandebise – Lauren Hambleton*
Romain Tournel – Brent Custer*
Don Carlos Homenides De Histangua – Dan Heinz
Lucienne Homenides De Histangua – Meghann Deveroux
Camille Chandebise – Griffin Leander*
Dr. Finache -–Scott Shaw
Feraillon – Doug Ford
Olympia – Tracy Fox
Eugenie – Jeannie Blau
Etienne – Patrick Peterson
Antoinette – Amanda Bass
Rugby – Aaron Roose*
Baptiste – Wes King

*Denotes OCTA Debut.

Read more about the cast and creative team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FLEA creative team is David Martin (director), D.K. Evenson (stage manager), Sarah Jeter (Costume Designer), Valerie Martin (Properties Designer), Dan Heinz (Fight Coordinator), Chuck Cline (Lighting Designer), David Martin (Sound Designer), Bill Wright (Set Designer).  A FLEA IN HER EAR approximate running time: Act 1 – 40 minutes, Act 2 – 40 minutes, Act 3 – 30 minutes. Some material is not suitable for children 13 and under.

ABOUT OLATHE CIVIC THEATRE ASSOCIATION: OCTA is an all volunteer 501c3 organization producing theatre in Olathe since 1974. Performing in the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse, OCTA produces five high-quality, engaging, and thought-provoking theatre productions a year. Through the generosity of volunteers, season ticket holders, donors, city, and community, in addition to a dedicated Board of Directors, OCTA has grown into one of the most progressive community theaters in the Kansas City metropolitan area. For more information, please visit www.olathetheatre.org. OCTA is a proud member of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, Nonprofit Connect, and Olathe Arts Alliance. Receive daily updates by ‘liking’ OCTA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/olathecivictheatre and follow OCTA on Twitter at @OCTATheatre.

 

 

 

 

OCTA’s REMAINING 2018-2019 SEASON:

A FLEA IN HER EAR
May 31 – June 16, 2019
A new version of Georges Feydeau’s farce
By David Ives | Directed by David Martin

As Raymonde suspects her suddenly uninterested husband is having an affair, she cooks up a trap to catch him in the act. Hilarity ensues as everything inevitably goes horribly wrong triggering laughs galore. Touted as the “greatest of French farces”, this dazzling comedy, and winner of the 2006 Jefferson Award for best adaptation, David Ives’ version of Georges Feydeau’s masterpiece achieves levels of glorious ridiculousness only an absurdist of Ives’ caliber can bring.

SPECIAL EVENT – THE GIVER, A MUSICAL: New Works Playwright Competition Winner Workshop – July 12 & 13, 2019
The full-length staged-reading of this year’s winner: The Giver – A Musical, by Nathan Christensen.

OCTA’s 2019-2020 LINEUP:

BRIGHT STAR
Inspired By A True Story
Music, Book and Story by Steve Martin | Music, Lyrics, and Story by Edie Brickell
Directed by Julie Ewing | Music Directed by Ashley Jones
August 30 – September 15, 2019

Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 1920s and ’40s. When Alice Murphy, the brilliant editor of a southern literary journal, meets Billy Cane, a soldier just home from World War II, they discover a powerful secret that alters their lives. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE
Inspiration for the hit Netflix Original Series!
Adapted for the stage by F. Andrew Leslie from the novel by Shirley Jackson
Directed by Derrick Freeman
October 25 – November 10, 2019

Four “psychically receptive” visitors arrive at the notoriously unfriendly Hill House in order to explore and draw forth the mysterious powers it is alleged to possess. Their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena, but Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own. Get ready to scream out loud at this classic psychological horror story that has both wit and thrills.

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
By William Shakespeare | Directed by David Martin
February 14 – March 1, 2020

Double-meanings, disguises, and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly catch on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense. A rollicking farce by the great Bard himself!

THE GOD COMMITTEE
By Mark St. Germain | Directed by Nino Casisi
April 3 – 19, 2020

Medicine, money, and morality clash when the heart transplant selection committee of St. Patrick’s Hospital has only minutes to decide which of four patients will receive a heart that has suddenly become available. A cross between Twelve Angry Men and ER, The God Committee takes us into the inner workings of a transplant program and a decision, for both their candidates and their program, which is a matter of life and death.

BIG FISH
Book by John August | Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Motion Picture written by John August
Directed by Jessica Franz | Music Directed by Baker Purdon
May 29 – June 14, 2020

Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest… and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him – most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to become a father himself, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. …an extraordinary musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre.

2019-2020 SPECIAL EVENTS

OCTA IS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
In loving memory of The Jan Conner Christmas Show
Written by Shelly Stewart Banks and Peter Leondedis
Directed by Shelly Stewart Banks
December 6, 7, 13, 14, 2020

Peter Leondedis and Shelly Stewart Banks are back with an ever-changing cast of talented local performers as they come together to wait for the Spirit of Christmas to arrive and bring a little holiday magic to OCTA! Each night will include something new and different and you won’t want to miss a thing. A fun, musical variety show for the whole family!

NEW WORKS PLAYWRIGHT COMPETITION (NWPC)
March 6 & 7, 2020

Which of the five finalists of OCTA’s fourth annual New Works Playwright Competition will get a full-length workshop for their script? You’ll see short teasers of each script, then vote for the winner. Make your voice count and support the local playwriting community at the same time!

NWPC WINNER WORKSHOP
Summer 2020

Join us for the full-length stage reading of the 2020 New Works Playwright Competition winner. The NWPC Winner Workshop provides a unique opportunity for the winning playwright to workshop their production on the OCTA stage and get feedback from a live audience.

 

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Please direct all media inquiries to:  Charlotte Gilman at 913-484-1651 (cell) or asgcroc@aol.com.

For further information or tickets, please visit our Web site at www.olathetheatre.org.

Reservations can be made by calling the reservation hotline at 913-782-2990 or by writing tickets@olathetheatre.org.