Review: The Rep’s “Boeing Boeing” Is Eye Candy For The Soul

Bhama Roget, Richard Nguyen Sloniker, Angela DiMarco, and Cheyenne Casebier in Seattle Rep’s current production of the naughty farce, Boeing Boeing. Photo: Andry Laurence.

Review: “Boeing-Boeing” by Marc Camoletti. Translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans. Directed by Alison Narver. With Richard Nguyen Sloniker, Mark Bedard, Bhama Roget, Angela DiMarco, Cheyenne Casebier and Anne Allgood. Now through May 19, 2013 at Seattle Repertory Theatre.

It would have made things so much easier if Seattle Repertory Theatre’s current production of the 50+ year French sex farce, “Boeing-Boeing” had been a dreary dud. Then I could have titled this review: “Boeing-Boeing is Boring-Boring” and called it a day. But there’s a reason why this play keeps getting revived…it’s pretty damn funny. The story of a an ambitiously amoral bachelor who cooks up the perfect scheme to land himself a lot of “action”…he rents a fabulous Parisian apartment complete with loyal maid and consulting the time tables for every major airline, manages to juggle three “fiances” who all work as “air hostesses” for three different airlines on completely different routes. It’s the perfect set-up for a 1960s bachelor on the make…until the arrival of faster jumbo jets which means his ladies are starting to have shorter and shorter trips and more free time for free love. Things are also complicated by the arrival of an old buddy of the bachelor who decides maybe he’d like a piece of this action as well.

Yes, it’s a sex farce of the slamming doors variety but in reality, it’s pretty tame; there’s “swinging” going on, but other than some kissing, there’s really no sex depicted on stage, or even verbal allusions to anything “dirty”. “Boeing-Boeing” is a candy coated comedic romp with the added benefit of being set in the Swinging Sixties, so visually it’s a delicious treat for the “Mad Men” crowd, complete with snazzy costumes of the era designed by Frances Kenny, and a delightful set by Carey Wong that not unintentionally recalls the interior of the poshest airport terminal imaginable. The story is about as deep as a puddle in Palm Springs, but who requires much depth in a silly sex farce?

It’s also aided by some terrific comedic performances from many beloved Seattle actors, including four great roles for actresses. Her accent isn’t always sure if it should be French or German, (is the character from Alsace-Lorraine?) but Anne Allgood is hilariously on target otherwise as the put upon maid Berthe who seems to despise most of the visitors to the household but appears to have a slight crush on the German hostess despite that lady’s affinity for sauerkraut. As for that German stewardess, and the other two ladies in the harem, their rather broadly caricatured charms are all brilliantly played by Cheyenne Casebier as the German Gretchen; Angela DiMarco as the Italian Gabriella; and, Bhama Roget as the brash American, Gloria. All three roles are stereotypes: the pedantic kraut eating German; the fiery, passionate Italian; the buxom and money hungry American with horrible taste in food, but the witty performances from the three actresses keep things playful and engaging. They are a treat.

The male actors are outnumbered by the females but both Richard Nguyen Sloniker and Mark Bedard manage to keep up. Mr. Sloniker has the disadvantage of playing the “straight man” Bernard, the master of the household and instigator of the perfect love harem scheme, around whom all the zanies orbit. He gets far fewer bits of craziness to perform, but the actor very ably handles the role as leading man with debonair suaveness that recalls Cary Grant. Mr. Bedard has the showier role as the nerdy house guest Robert who gets caught up in the naughtiness; the actor and director Alison Narver have added a lot of physical schtick to the role, most of it being very funny, though a comic bit with some luggage went on a bit longer than necessary.It was funny, but it needed some editing.

Which brings us to the only negative criticism I’m going to give “Boeing-Boeing”…it’s really too long. At heart, the play is a brilliant 90 to 110 minute long comedy masterpiece. The problem is, the actual running time is  over two hours long which is not desirable when it comes to playing comedy…it’s all about the timing and to belabor it, only hurts it. The play, and this production, are both very funny but many of the jokes seem a bit…strung out, with points made but there seems to be a tendency to stretch out the joke longer than it needs to be and to revisit the same point too many times in a scene. Like an overgrown but beautiful garden in springtime, “Boeing-Boeing” could use a good pruning.

That being said, it’s still recommended as a charming, visually delightful comic bon bon. Mr. Wong’s set, complete with crazy gadgets and hidden pieces of furniture that recall those old “Matt Helm” movies with Dean Martin, is a treat that earned applause when the curtain rose. Ms Kenny’s divine costumes which include the natty suits worn by the men as well as the crisply cut and color coded uniforms of the air hostesses and their sexy “civilian” looks, will have you running out to your local vintage clothing store to replicate the chic looks. It’s a good looking production.

Who’s it for? “Mad Men” fanatics and everyone who has ever adored a silly sex farce from the era.