City Hall, Theatre Saturday 8, Sunday 9, Tuesday 11-May 16

Originally written by French playwright Georges Feydeau in the early 1900s, A Flea in Her Ear sees a wife test her husband’s fidelity by writing him an anonymous love letter. What follows is an avalanche of hilarity involving a comedy of errors, wit, satire, and plenty of slapstick to draw the laughs. In 1992 the play was adapted in Cantonese by Chung King-fai and produced by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. Eighteen years later, the story will storm the stage once more as part of Le French May, this time under the direction of HKRep artistic director Anthony Chan.

“It’s a great balancing act,” says Chan. “It’s important to maintain a logical foundation under the complex weave of comedy, to help the audience make sense of the story. It’s harder to satisfy today’s theatre audience when they’re so much more sophisticated, and when our society’s pace often influences how they wish to be entertained. So it’s equally important for me to adapt the play in a way that suits the tempo of our city, to keep the audience interested, while being respectful of Feydeau.”

The play brings more than just humour and entertainment to the table. While its satiric edges highlight the differences in social hierarchy, its relevance to reality is explored by addressing how the havoc, amusing as it may be, can be avoided simply through better communication. “I think that’s the universal statement within the play,” Chan says. “Hopefully, that makes it relatable to our audience.”

Heidi Yeung

Performed in Cantonese with English & Chinese surtitles. Tickets: 2734 9009; www.urbtix.hk.