The ABC Players invite audiences to close out their 2024–2025 season with a riotous romp through romance, deception and delightful chaos with a staged reading of The French Have a Word for It on Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. at the historic Stuart’s Opera House.

A masterclass in mistaken identities and marital mayhem, this witty French farce centers around a flirtatious wife who vows to remain faithful—so long as her husband does. When a scheme to expose his fidelity (or lack thereof) spirals wildly out of control, the stage fills with outraged husbands, watchful wives, bumbling bellboys, seductive schemers, and increasingly confused police inspectors. In a whirlwind of secret rendezvous, no one—not even the audience—is quite sure who ends up in bed with whom.

“My character, Maria Soldignac, is the root cause of all the marital problems in this farce,” Celeste Parsons, one of the actors, said. “Maria is a Spanish woman with whom Lucienne’s husband had a brief but intense fling in Madrid. Maria accompanies her husband on a business trip to Paris and makes a passionate bid to renew the affair during the seven days of the trip. When Lucienne is encouraged to witness the liaison, fireworks erupt.”

Keeping up with the fun of the farce, Celeste Parsons is also being joined on stage with her real-life husband, Jim, who plays Ernest Redillon, a sort of playboy in his early 30s who has always been in love with Lucienne, his best friend’s wife.

“Lucienne suspects her husband of infidelity and declares that, if she finds out for sure, she will avenge herself by having her own affair,” Jim Parsons explained. “Another woman, in similar circumstances, makes the same vow. Both women show up at Redillon’s home to enact their vengeance on their unfaithful husbands. But Redillon has just spent eleven hours in bed with a substitute for Lucienne, and he is in no condition to meet the expectations of the two ladies who have come to him for their vengeance.”

Written by Georges Feydeau and translated by Barnett Shaw, this staged reading, directed by Alexa Ross, offers a unique glimpse into the mechanics of classic farce, with all the humor and high energy of a full production, brought vividly to life by a talented local cast.

“I saw my first French farce right after college, on a scholarship with the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, George Feydeau’s ‘A Flea In Her Ear,’ costumes and set all in black and white,” Ross explained. “Researching plays at OU’s Alden Library, I found another forgotten gem by the same playwright to share with this community. Zut alors, I hope audiences have a good laugh with this one – we all need one!”

In addition to Jim and Celeste Parsons, the talented cast also includes Ross, Judi Rioch, Tristan Medley, Ken Bowald, Danny Waldman, Amy Abercrombie, Jeff George, Kristen Kerwin, StarMary Castro and Joe Balding.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

The French Have a Word for It is presented through Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

For more information about the ABC Players and upcoming productions, visit http://abcplayers.org/.

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About ABC Players
The ABC Players are a volunteer community theater group based in Nelsonville, Ohio, performing at the historic Stuart’s Opera House. Committed to bringing quality theater to the region, ABC Players offer a wide range of productions throughout the year—from dramas and comedies to musicals and readings—fostering creativity and community through the performing arts.