It's often said that comedy is much harder to pull off than tragedy. Consider that getting an audience to cry over a death scene is far less of a challenge than inducing unanimous laughs with a silly pratfall. But credit British director Matthew Warchus and his game cast for coaxing belly laughs from the dopiest material.
“Boeing-Boeing” is a classic sex farce in which style is far more important than substance. Timing and precision are the actors' best arsenal and this bunch scores a bull’s-eye right to the funny bone.
Bernard, an American playboy living in Paris prides himself on being able to juggle a trio of flight attendants he's romancing. He goes to ridiculous lengths to keep his secret from them and he's aided by an unlikely old friend, the hopelessly nerdy Robert. The stage is perfectly set in Bernard's spacious bachelor pad featuring plenty of doors. Eventually, those doors start flinging open and Boeing Boeing turns howlingly funny.
Much of the credit goes to Warchus' impeccable direction, so precisely staged, he could easily qualify as choreographer. He's aided immeasurably by a cast that's gifted physically and, you might say, lingually.
We first meet Gloria an American who flies for TWA. Kathryn Hahn makes a wonderfully libidinous gold digger. Then there's Gabriella of Air Italia, Gina Gershon expertly channeling that other voluptuous Gina, Lollogbrigida. And finally Gretchen the no-nonsense Nazified fraulein of Lufthansa. Everything's insultingly over the top of course but that only adds to the hilarity.
Christine Baranski, supplying the French accent as Berthe the put upon maid, is magnifique. Bradley Whitford gives it his sweaty all as the action reaches fever pitch, and then there's Mark Rylance's inspired creation, Robert from Wisconsin. His flat deadpan delivery conceals a raging maniac beneath the surface. Whether he's flailing on the floor or merely staring blankly in space, he's utterly priceless.
At more than two and a half hours, the show could stand a little trimming, but that would be tough, given its intricately plotted humor. Just chalk it up to too much of a good thing. “Boeing-Boeing” starts a bit slowly, but once it takes off, it soars to comic heights.
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