The Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2

What could possibly go wrong? In the hands of Georges Feydeau, just about everything! Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents The Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2, an evening of two one-act comedies by the master French farceur, directed by Cirque du Soleil clown Daniel Passer. The production opens October 31, with performances continuing through January 17 at the Odyssey's three-theater complex in West L.A. Three low-priced previews take place Oct. 28–30.

Wild plots and quicksilver wit characterize the plays of Georges Feydeau. Considered by many to be the greatest master of French comedy since Molière, Feydeau was famous for his mathematical precision in timing, door-slamming choreography, and themes of mistaken identity and marital chaos.

With Going to Pot and Stark Naked, Feydeau pulls out all the stops, plunging his characters into a dizzying, surreal whirlwind of complications. The two one-acts are part of the famous French vaudevillian's "marriage" collection, written late in his career as his comedy grew increasingly anarchic. Domestic disagreements explode into madness and mayhem, as people pushed to their limits behave in increasingly outrageous, and hilarious, ways.

"These farces are high-octane in the vein of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers or Mr. Bean," Passer explains. "Everyone is at their absolute wit's end, and every attempt to fix things only makes them worse."

Passer will direct the two one-acts in true repertory style, with each of the six actors performing in both plays.

In Going to Pot, a chaotic domestic dispute completely derails a high-stakes business deal. Follavoine has invented an unbreakable chamber pot that he hopes to sell to the French military. But when a high-ranking official from the War Ministry arrives for a demonstration, their meeting is utterly disrupted by Follavoine's wife, Julie, who is consumed by a domestic emergency: their seven-year-old son is severely constipated.

In Stark Naked, Ventroux is a prominent politician who can't seem to persuade his wife to put some clothes on — not even in the presence of their servant, Victor, or as they prepare for a visit from an important local dignitary and political rival. When a local journalist shows up, Ventroux realizes that his political aspirations may be headed for complete ruin.

The laughter will continue between the plays with a comic interlude of original sketches about the madness of relationships.

"The whole evening is a great excuse to laugh and have a good time," says Passer. "The plays are purely designed for joy — for the audience, that is, at the expense of the characters."

Performances of The Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2 take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from October 31 through January 17, with no performances November 27–29 or December 21–January 7. Two additional performances will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. Prior to opening, there will be three previews on Wednesday, Oct. 28; Thursday, Oct. 29; and Friday, Oct. 30, each at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $20 to $38.

The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 477-2055 or go to OdysseyTheatre.com.

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