I just saw Boeing Boeing at the Depot Theatre, and I have to say that this comedy is laugh out loud hilarious!

Here’s a short synopsis of the plot:

Bernard (Marshall York) is secretly engaged to multiple women. How does he get away with it? He found three flight attendants from different airlines whose flight schedules never match up, so Bernard is assured that each girlfriend will never be in his city at the same time. Only Bernard’s long suffering maid Bertha (Sandy York) is aware of the deception although she isn’t fond of all the work it causes her. However, the invention of faster planes and a chance storm ensures that all three fiancees arrive on the same day.

Bernard’s friend Robert (Adam Petherbridge) happens to visit that very day and learns of his friend’s “international harem” as he jokingly calls it and gets mixed up trying to help Bernard juggle the three women to avoid being caught. Can this end well for anyone? Surprisingly, yes! But just how and who gets happy endings you’ll have to see for yourself!

You only have until Sunday, August 4 to see the show if you haven’t yet. Call the Depot Theatre Box Office at (518) 962-4449 to reserve your tickets!

Outstanding Cast

All the actors portrayed such vastly different and entertaining characters.

Of the fiancees, we meet the independant and fast-talking American Gloria (Jaz Zepatos) first, followed by the loud and passionate Italian Gabriella (Wilma Cespedes-Rivera), and finally we meet the ardent German Gretchen (Jenny Strassburg)

All three women are caricatures of their nationalities, but the men don’t escape being portrayed as stock roles either as one is the playboy and the other is the sort-of naive country-boy. However, this is all intentional and played for laughs. The actors’ exaggerations of those roles makes the show the great farce that it is!

A few times the accents were not always exactly clear to me, but the meanings were apparent in body language and the other characters reactions. I recall more than once that one of the women said something and another character would repeat what was said in the course of natural dialogue, but it would help fill in a few of the minor misunderstandings.

The show utilizes some physical comedy complete with a multitude slamming doors. I’d have to say that some of the stunts Petherbridge and Strassburg perform are the most hilarious. When Robert started rolling and falling on top of things trying to cover up evidence with his body the crowd erupted in laughter, although I think Gretchen’s crawling around while professing giving a speech about watching the moon from the plane beat out the former in volume and length of laughter.

Beautiful 1960s Parisian Set

The set was a beautiful, elegant Parisian apartment, and the decor gave off that 1960s vibe which is when the show takes place. Kudos to Jonathan Wentz for the design.

I love that throughout the apartment there are splashes of yellow (Gretchen), red (Gabriella), and blue (Gloria) matching the color of each fiancee’s uniform. The light tones of the majority of the apartment really make each use of those colors pop!

There is a painting that utilizes all three colors, and it has hidden catch that opens to reveal a panel with photo of each woman along with records keeping track of their schedules and a clocks–an ingenious design of “Bernard’s” and a great prop.

Boeing Boeing Actors’ Adventures

Take a sneak peek at what this cast gets up to in their time off when they visit Essex in the slideshow below!

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