Photos courtesy of Tia LePore of Tia Rose Photography.
The sophisticated French farce, Boeing-Boeing, by playwright Marc Camoletti, premiered with the Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre Friday, Feb. 20 and will run through March 8 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.
The play saw its Paris premiere Dec. 10, 1960. In 1991, the play was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world. It enjoyed 23 Broadway performances in February 1965.
The comedy is set in Bernard’s apartment in Paris in the ‘60s. Note the soundtrack, cleverly compiled by Rick Thompson. Recorded welcoming remarks mimic the routine airline on-board spiel. The plot’s premise is: “It all boils down to juggling time-tables, and a reliable maid” Berthe (Sharol Yeatman “who never forgets to change the photos.” More details of the play’s history may be found on Wikipedia.com.
Director/Producer Thom Esposito has assembled talented actors and crew members to bring Boeing-Boeing to life. He gives them all a heart-felt “thank you” in his director’s notes in the program. Thom has achieved previous success as director of NTP productions “Over the River and Through the Woods,” and “Barefoot in the Park.” Now he can proudly add Boeing-Boeing to his list of successful directing accomplishments.
The cast of characters includes the American playboy Bernard (Jeff Maher, remembered for his recent powerful performance in the title role of NTP’s Dracula), his longtime friend Robert Lambert (Richard Milla), and Bernard’s three gorgeous international airline stewardess fiancées – the American Gloria (Kathryn Teague, making her NTP debut here); the Italian Gabriella (Stacey Mulrooney, an NTP veteran seen most recently as Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo); and the German Gretchen (Catherine DiChristofaro in her fourth NTP production, seen most recently as Rosalind in Moon Over Buffalo. By day, Catherine is the Branch Manager at the Charlotte Hall Library).
Yes, that’s correct: Bernard has three fiancées. And this is OK because the three girls do not know about each other. At first. You see, a newer, speedier Boeing jet is about to throw off Bernard’s carefully planned timetable. When all three women come to town at the exact same time, the schedule is thrown into chaos and Robert forgets his “script.” A disaster looms, hilarity ensues.
Bernard’s spacious living room is decorated with works of art extraordinaire! Multiple doors opening into the living room lead to bedrooms, a bathroom and the kitchen, with a cleverly-designed set of sliding glass doors at the back of the stage leading to other areas of the apartment and presumably to outdoors, as well.
Act I opens on Bernard and Gloria at breakfast. Gloria is about to leave (“her” days in the apartment are Mondays to Wednesdays) but she announces that she will soon be transferred to the super-Boeing jet, allowing her to return to Paris faster.
Berthe is now “on alert” as she meticulously organizes the meals according to which girlfriend is currently in town.
Bernard’s friend, Robert, unexpectedly arrives for a visit from Wisconsin. At first, Robert is horrified as Bernard explains his polygamous harem arrangement, but by the end of the evening the audience will come to realize that Robert is quite the “player” himself! This is Mr. Milla’s third NTP role; he was most recently seen as Officer O’Hara in last season’s Arsenic and Old Lace. By day, he is busy flight-testing the F-35B Lightning II. His American accent here is a marvel.
Bernard patiently explains his set-up in detail. His fiancées are already the “pick of the crop” airline stewardess-wise as they’ve already been super-sifted, “vetted,” if you will, by the respective airlines for their looks. All he needed to do was to pick from different airlines and different routes so they they’d never meet up. He highly recommends this “system” to Robert and insists it’s simply a question of mathematics. Precision is the key. So, all is well as long as the schedule stays on track—Gloria for two days, Gabriella for two days, Gretchen for two days. Bernard changes woman, Berthe changes the menu—and the photos and the throw pillows. Simple.
As soon as Gloria departs, Gabriella arrives on a three-hour layover before she flies out to Caracas as Act I comes to a close.
Act II finds Berthe and Robert, just a few hours later into the plot, engaged in verbal sparring until Gretchen enters and accidentally mistakes Robert for Bernard, kissing him passionately. Gabriella and Bernard re-enter the living room after they’ve had lunch. Gretchen has retired to “her” room—for the moment. Now what? After Gabriella throws a little Italian-accented temper tantrum, she and Bernard go out to the countryside for dinner. This leaves Robert and Berthe in the apartment with Gretchen now in the bath. A phone call signals the return of Gloria’s plane to Paris, and brings Act II its end.
This brief description of the basically simple plot does not do justice at all to the onstage histrionics that take place continuously among the characters. Secret codes, both verbal and non-verbal, are exchanged non-stop between Berthe and Bernard, between Bernard and Robert.
As the two boyhood friends, Mr. Maher and Mr. Mila complement each other brilliantly, sharing their plans and their confusion as they attempt to juggle the three women who wind up visiting at the same time. The chemistry that ignites between them propels the action to its satisfying resolution. Mr. Maher seems to be the epitome of self-control (that is, until things start to hopelessly unravel), with Robert eventually becoming complicit in the intrigue. This scenario comprises the entirety of Act III (which takes place in the late evening of the same day), until, somehow, all is happily resolved.
The three actresses portraying the fiancées are beautifully costumed in their stewardess outfits with matching airline-logo bags, as well as in their “bedroom” attire. Accents are appropriate for each nationality, and add spice to their dialogue, showcasing their distinctive personalities. And none of the girlfriends is exactly what she appears to be; there are enough surprises to go around for everyone.
Keeping all this mayhem under control, so to speak, is Berthe, the maid with an attitude, who is the center of all the action and inter-action of everyone’s comings and goings. Employing a sparkling French accent, Ms. Yeatman’s interpretation is the highlight of the evening. Sharol was recently seen in NTP’s As You Like It, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Artworks featured during the run of Boeing-Boeing are by members of the Color and Light Society and are all for sale. The Society is made up of a group of local artists from St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties, totaling 30 members in all; Anita George is the current President. This non-profit organization promotes education of art to the public as well as to its members. The artists volunteer with local community organizations throughout the year at Anne-Marie Gardens, the Calvert Marine Museum, the Sotterley WineFest, the Prince Frederick Furniture Gallery, and elsewhere. Artists from the Color and Light Society will be attending each Boeing-Boeing performance; you will be able to purchase and take home your artwork at the performance you attend with the exception of the works used onstage. Those pieces are also available for purchase but cannot be taken until after the very last show.
Artists participating during Boeing-Boeing include Priscilla Catterton, Joann Coombs, Gail Chenevey, Kay Duvall, Iris Hall-Willey, Hana Horstkamp, Marianna Nystrom, Ann Preston, Carole Purcell, Linda Sanborn, and Karen Szachnitowski.
Linda Sanborn serves as painter/creative consultant for Boeing-Boeing. She started her own decorative painting business, Golden Brush Designs, LLC in 2004. She specializes in custom techniques and enjoys working directly with the home or business owners to define the perfect style. Most of her canvas artwork is painted in oil; her realistic style is influenced by the beauty in nature. She has been painting professional for almost 20 years, and has been a member of the Color and Light Society for 13 years.
Members of Boeing-Boeing’s cast and crew include lighting designer Lisa Gregory, sound designer Rick Thompson, set designer Bill Armstrong, props manager Diane Trautman, costumers Joanne Fuesel and Stacy Oosterink, hair designer Lisa Portenza, makeup designer Sheila Hyman-Wrabley, technical consultant D.J. Lavery, graphic designer Stacey Mulrooney and producer/stage manager Beth Sanford to whom Thom Esposito directs “a million thank-yous.” Last summer, Beth directed NTP’s As You Like It. By day she can be found in costume at Historic St. Mary’s City. Jennifer Carnahan is NTP’s artistic director.
Adult General Admission is $15; tickets for seniors over 65, students, and military are $12 and tickets for children under age 12 are $10. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are $10 on Thursdays. Three Notch Theatre is located on South Coral Drive in Lexington Park. For more information you may visit www.newtowneplayers.org or you may call (301)737-5447. And prepare to fasten your seat belts; it’s going to be a hilarious night!
