Review
What: Boeing Boeing
Where: Langham Court Theatre
When: To Aug. 2
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
For your summertime amusement, Langham Court has hatched a terrific production of Boeing Boeing, a comedy about a ladies’ man with a passion for flight attendants. Peppered with polyamorous hijinx, the French farce not only achieves takeoff but soars a mile high.
On paper, Boeing Boeing might not seem particularly promising. Marc Camoletti’s play premièred way back in 1960. And its premise seems downright Benny Hill-like. A Paris-based playboy, Bernard (Jeff Olyarnyk), dates a trio of attractive stewardesses. He manages this by keeping scrupulous track of their flight schedules — by some minor miracle, two of them are always out of town.
Happily, Langham Court is using a critically acclaimed 2007 translation of Boeing Boeing. The play is still set in the 1960s, but far from seeming dated, it comes off as fresh and funny. And the structure is wonderfully tight — nothing seems extraneous; every word moves the action forward.
To achieve liftoff, farce needs to achieve a state of frothy, audacious excitement. Words and action must somehow combine to achieve the effect of champagne bubbles rising in a glass. On Thursday night, that magic happened.
Boeing Boeing’s humour revolves around the notion Bernard must ensure each of his fiancées (yes, he’s engaged to all of them) doesn’t know about the others. The fun begins when all three arrive at his bachelor pad at the same time.
This triggers a symphony of door openings and closings. We, the audience, take pleasure in the extraordinary efforts undertaken by Bernard, his pal Robert and his long-suffering French maid Berthe to maintain the grand deception.
Director Toshik Bukowiecki also directed Boeing Boeing for Langham Court in 1978. He knows exactly what he’s doing. The physical side of this production works particularly well. Without a misstep, characters pop in and out exactly on cue. No opportunity for horseplay is overlooked — we’re presented with an deliciously elaborate dance that speaks to the absurdity of human existence.
This is a particularly strong cast — there isn’t a weak link in the bunch. Arguably, the best role is Robert, who, as Bernard’s wing-man, not only attempts to help his buddy but tries his hand as a Lothario as well. Perry Burton manages this tremendously well. He has a definite knack for comedy, displaying verbal and physical dexterity rather reminiscent of Jack Lemmon’s.
As Berthe, Kathy Macovichuk offered a hammy performance (industrial-strength French accent, exaggerated facial expressions) that worked well and attracted the strongest applause at curtain.
The talented Hayley McCurdy, a recent University of Victoria theatre graduate, was particularly impressive as Gretchen, giving the German stewardess an over-the-top feistiness that’s funny and also gives the comedy a certain grit. Tea Siskin, another UVic grad, got a bit carried away with her Atlanta accent in the open scenes but then settled into a fine performance. Ditto for Keeley Teuber as stewardess No. 3, and Olyarnyk (Bernard).
A well-lit set, designed by Bukowiecki, successfully conjures up a 1960s pad, complete with lava lamp and other period touches. Costumes by Sue McCaskill are excellent — particularly the crayon-coloured stewardess costumes in bright yellow, green and red.
This first-rate show, which received a standing ovation, is well worth seeking out. It’s sure to be a hit of the summer season.