I ALWAYS look forward to London Classic Theatre productions, it’s traditional fare superbly crafted – nostalgia with panache. Happily their latest offering, the classic 60s farce Boeing, Boeing offers more of the same.
The play concerns Bernard, suavely played by John Dorney who lives in a glorious multi roomed apartment in Paris. Catering to his every whim is a long suffering housekeeper Bertha – a tour-de-force from the remarkable Jo Castleton.
Bernard lives the life of a Parisian stud – he enjoys a menagerie of three airhostesses. That’s Gloria played by Isabel Della-Porta – she’s an American with Trans World Airlines, Gabriella – Nathalie Barclay – French and with Air France and Gretchen – Jessica Dennis – German with of course Lufthansa.
Picture by Sheila Burnett. s
The girls are naturally oblivious to each other’s existence as Bernard runs his love life with all the hands on skills of an air traffic controller.
That is until the arrival of his old chum Robert – Paul Sandys – whose here to learn the tricks of caddism from his old friend.
In good old farce tradition things go haywire and the normally smooth flight paths become stormy. Girls arrive at the wrong time and there is much business of putting them into separate rooms and keeping them apart.
Michael Cabot has directed traditionally and skillfully – the pace builds to frantic with nary a pause for breath. The sex is a delicious undercurrent with nothing in your face and so much the better for it.
The audience left with big grins and happy chatters having had a thoroughly fun-filled evening.
Boeing Boeing runs until Saturday, July 9. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
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