A Flea in Her Ear

[beckettologist]

Oh that is great news!

[trickypixie]

Great news indeed! Thanks for the update Rachael; I'm sorry you missed him. I hope you can find a way to go back and see Tom in action. ;D

[beckettologist]

Jan 17, 2011 19:32:20 GMT -5 trickypixie said:

Great news indeed! Thanks for the update Rachael; I'm sorry you missed him. I hope you can find a way to go back and see Tom in action. ;D

Yay! Look like you are safe Sara! I know *I* am excited.

[sanssouci]

Jan 17, 2011 19:32:20 GMT -5 trickypixie said:

Great news indeed! Thanks for the update Rachael; I'm sorry you missed him. I hope you can find a way to go back and see Tom in action. ;D

Tom was absolutely amazing when we saw him in December, Rachael. We've booked again for the 5th March (the last day). Hopefully you can find a way to see "Flea" again.

Counting the days ;D

[Rachael]

I'm hoping to book again for 5th March (or the Saturday before). Just have to persuade some friends to come with me!!

[sanssouci]

Looks like Tom is on stage for the matinee tomorrow ;D

[beckettologist]

Just discovered they have posted 35 new production pics from the play:
www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=227333&id=116694452184

[Prior Engagement]

I finally saw Tom last night and these are the notes I made......

It's a bit spoilery, I guess........

I don't rush to see a farce but I have unfaltering faith in Richard Eyre, adore this theatre and have never been let down by the notable members of this cast.

It hits the ground running with lot of silly exchanges, some a tad too shrill for my liking but the entire piece is deftly set up in a matter of minutes.

A production like this can fall on it's face at the first hurdle but the faith that brought me here was well placed. The timing and sheer joy of the cast make this romp along in an relaxing way.

At first, I was distracted but Mr Hollander's 'enhanced' bottom but it soon became clear that a sweet gluteus maximus can only take so much bashing without padding. Tom's energy was exhausting as he dashed in and out of his various costumes finishing off with a delightfully pratish moment at the curtain call. I am not sure how he manages with two performances and I doubt I would rush to see this in the evening of a matinee day. That said, he is probably flying on adrenaline. I just enjoyed the freshness of his performance this time.

Ms Dillon was divine once again but the male cast were the most pleasurable to observe. Oliver Cotton maintains his grandeur in the face of ridiculous circumstances and subtly holds the fulcrum of the farce together. Freddie Fox's cleft palette was no doubt a difficult thing to perfect without seeming too ridiculous even for this but in the most part, he was superb albeit annoying. The only actor who I felt was physically miscast gave a faultless performance.
he set for the hotel was gloriously ridiculous and a complete shock after the austere drawing room of the Chandebise's house. That it was swung into place in so few minutes and still settling as the curtain went back up was one of the most joyful moments of the night.

If you know what you're in for, understand the craft of these things and are not looking for deep, intellectual post-show debate, toss your cares aside and laugh your way around this.

Tom has that boyish look of naive wonderment throughout but despite the mixing of his costumes, you were never in doubt as to which character he was playing. He seemed to have some marks on his forehead that I couldn't identify. I hope he's fully recovered. He certainly had a great deal of energy.

This would be a really awful night out in the hands of a lesser cast and director. It is fraught with moments of technically tricky gags but this production is fine. There are several occasions when everyone runs around circles screeching which I really didn't like but they were not unexpected.

My only other criticism would be that Mnsr Tournel should be a more dashingly desirable actor than Jonathan Cake but I really couldn't fault his performance.

[Rachael]

I've booked to see it again on 5th March. Can't wait to see Tom!

[beckettologist]

Feb 9, 2011 8:59:44 GMT -5 Prior Engagement said:

I finally saw Tom last night and these are the notes I made......

It's a bit spoilery, I guess........

I don't rush to see a farce but I have unfaltering faith in Richard Eyre, adore this theatre and have never been let down by the notable members of this cast.

It hits the ground running with lot of silly exchanges, some a tad too shrill for my liking but the entire piece is deftly set up in a matter of minutes.

A production like this can fall on it's face at the first hurdle but the faith that brought me here was well placed. The timing and sheer joy of the cast make this romp along in an relaxing way.

At first, I was distracted but Mr Hollander's 'enhanced' bottom but it soon became clear that a sweet gluteus maximus can only take so much bashing without padding. Tom's energy was exhausting as he dashed in and out of his various costumes finishing off with a delightfully pratish moment at the curtain call. I am not sure how he manages with two performances and I doubt I would rush to see this in the evening of a matinee day. That said, he is probably flying on adrenaline. I just enjoyed the freshness of his performance this time.

Ms Dillon was divine once again but the male cast were the most pleasurable to observe. Oliver Cotton maintains his grandeur in the face of ridiculous circumstances and subtly holds the fulcrum of the farce together. Freddie Fox's cleft palette was no doubt a difficult thing to perfect without seeming too ridiculous even for this but in the most part, he was superb albeit annoying. The only actor who I felt was physically miscast gave a faultless performance.
he set for the hotel was gloriously ridiculous and a complete shock after the austere drawing room of the Chandebise's house. That it was swung into place in so few minutes and still settling as the curtain went back up was one of the most joyful moments of the night.

If you know what you're in for, understand the craft of these things and are not looking for deep, intellectual post-show debate, toss your cares aside and laugh your way around this.

Tom has that boyish look of naive wonderment throughout but despite the mixing of his costumes, you were never in doubt as to which character he was playing. He seemed to have some marks on his forehead that I couldn't identify. I hope he's fully recovered. He certainly had a great deal of energy.

This would be a really awful night out in the hands of a lesser cast and director. It is fraught with moments of technically tricky gags but this production is fine. There are several occasions when everyone runs around circles screeching which I really didn't like but they were not unexpected.

My only other criticism would be that Mnsr Tournel should be a more dashingly desirable actor than Jonathan Cake but I really couldn't fault his performance.

So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the review! I am getting more and more excited! Less than 3 weeks!

P.S. I believe the mark on his forehead was from his first injury early in the run when a door smacked him backstage.

[MarieTheMagpie]

You can't imagine how I'm chocked to hear that !!
If I were here when the guy did that ... seriously I would have fought him !! I'M SO ANGRY !!
Anyone has the right to hurt Tom
I hope he'll be fine when I'll go to see the play, I'll come from France to see it ! And I hope I'll talk to him (

[MarieTheMagpie]

aaaw sorry I didn't know he did it ... himself ^^

[sanssouci]

We've probably seen some of these photographs before but I thought they were worth another look

geraint-lewis.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/A-FLEA-IN-HER-EAR/G0000WFkVzCnn2nw/I0000C7gdr_ZSVuY/P00004syYSilDB90

[beckettologist]

Apr 5, 2011 15:30:18 GMT -5 sanssouci said:

We've probably seen some of these photographs before but I thought they were worth another look

geraint-lewis.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/A-FLEA-IN-HER-EAR/G0000WFkVzCnn2nw/I0000C7gdr_ZSVuY/P00004syYSilDB90

Ahhhh...like be back on our seats in Row E, eh Sue? Sigh.

[sanssouci]

Apr 5, 2011 21:31:09 GMT -5 beckettologist said:

Apr 5, 2011 15:30:18 GMT -5 sanssouci said:

We've probably seen some of these photographs before but I thought they were worth another look

geraint-lewis.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/A-FLEA-IN-HER-EAR/G0000WFkVzCnn2nw/I0000C7gdr_ZSVuY/P00004syYSilDB90

Ahhhh...like be back on our seats in Row E, eh Sue? Sigh.

Yes Deb - such happy memories ;D

Looking at the photos and remembering how much fun the play was I'm thinking, yet again, how wonderful it would be if it was filmed for DVD