Boeing Boeing (play)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boeing Boeing is a classic French farce by Marc Camoletti. The English version of the play is translated by Beverley Cross.
The original London production of the play opened at the Apollo Theatre in 1962 and then transferred to the Duchess Theatre in 1965. It closed after a highly successful run that stretched over seven years and 2,035 performances.
In 1991, the play was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world. The most recent Paris revival enjoyed a long-running success at the Theatre Michel. A new London revival opened in 2007 and began its run on Broadway on May 4, 2008.
Contents |
[edit] Subsequent productions
Boeing Boeing was revived in London in February 2007 at the Comedy Theatre. It has once again proved to be a hit with critics and audiences alike. The original cast of the production featured Roger Allam as Bernard, Frances de la Tour as Bertha, Mark Rylance as Robert, and Tamzin Outhwaite, Daisy Beaumont and Michelle Gomez as Bernard's three fiancées, Gloria, Gabriella and Gretchen. This production received two Olivier Award nominations, for Best Revival and Best Actor (Mark Rylance), but won neither.
The play was produced on Broadway at the Cort Theatre from February 1, 1965, closing on February 20, 1965, after 23 performances. Directed by Jack Minster, the cast included Ian Carmichael, Susan Carr and Gerald Harper.
A Broadway revival started previews on April 19, 2008 and opened on May 4, at the Longacre Theatre to good reviews.[1] Directed by Matthew Warchus, the cast features Christine Baranski as Bertha, Mark Rylance, reprising his role as Robert, Bradley Whitford as Bernard, Gina Gershon as Gabriella, Mary McCormack as Gretchen and Kathryn Hahn as Gloria [2].
The 2008 Broadway revival has been nominated for several Tony Awards including: best revival of a play, best leading actor (Mark Rylance), best featured actress (Mary McCormack), best director (Matthew Warchus), best costume design (Rob Howell), and best sound design (Simon Baker).[3] The production won the Drama Desk Award for outstanding revival of a play, and Mark Rylance won for lead actor in a play.[4]
[edit] Films
Boeing Boeing has been adapted for film four times: in 1960 in French; in 1965, in English, starring Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis and Thelma Ritter; in 1985 in Malayalam, starring Mohan Lal; and in 2005 in Hindi.
[edit] Synopsis
Bernard, a successful Parisian architect, juggles three air-hostess fiancées: an American (Gloria), and Italian (Gabriella) and a German (Gretchen). He tracks their airlines' timetables, and his long-suffering housekeeper, Bertha, reluctantly resets the menus and bedroom decor depending on the arrivals and departures. Bernard has been successful at convincing each girl that she is the only one. Bernard's old school friend Robert arrives unexpectedly, and Bernard proudly explains to his wide-eyed visitor how he makes his busy romantic schedule run smoothly. He also has a fallback plan for keeping his fiancées separate, involving his country house. Unfortunately for Bernard, a new, faster Boeing jet has been introduced, changing the timetable. Weather delays occur, and complications arise when the girls' behavior does not match Bernard's careful planning.
Robert steps in to help Bernard by keeping one or more of the girls busy as they arrive ahead of (or behind) schedule. It becomes more and more difficult for Bernard, Bertha and Robert to keep the girls separate once they all arrive, and the lies told become more and more difficult to reconcile. Bertha is exhausted and threatens to quit. Eventually, the situation is combed out, with Robert becoming involved with the forceful Gretchen, Bernard keeping the feisty Gabriella, and the independent Gloria leaving to find a more pliable husband.
The plot runs parallel to The Captain's Paradise (1953), in where the protagonist is a seafaring captain with many affairs.
[edit] Cast - 2007 West End revival
| Bernard, a Parisian architect and Lothario | Bertha, Bernard's Housekeeper | Robert, Bernard's old schoolchum | Gabriella, the Italian fiancée | Gloria, the American fiancée | Gretchen, the German fiancée | |
| Feb-May 07 | Roger Allam | Frances de la Tour | Mark Rylance | Daisy Beaumont | Tamzin Outhwaite | Michelle Gomez |
| May-Jun 07 | Roger Allam | Patricia Hodge | Mark Rylance | Daisy Beaumont | Amy Nuttall | Michelle Gomez |
| Jun-Oct 07 | Adrian Dunbar | Rhea Perlman | Neil Stuke | Elena Roger | Amy Nuttall | Doon Mackichan |
| Oct 07-Jan 08 | Kevin McNally | Jean Marsh | Neil Stuke | Elena Roger | Jennifer Ellison | Tracy-Ann Oberman |
[edit] Cast - 2008 Broadway revival
| Bernard, a Parisian architect and Lothario | Bertha, Bernard's Housekeeper | Robert, Bernard's old schoolchum | Gabriella, the Italian fiancée | Gloria, the American fiancée | Gretchen, the German fiancée | |
| Apr 08- | Bradley Whitford | Christine Baranski | Mark Rylance | Gina Gershon | Kathryn Hahn | Mary McCormack |
