Review: Boeing, Boeing

I went to see Broadway’s new hit comedy “Boeing, Boeing” on the basis of its star power (comedic treasure Christine Baranski and “The West Wing’s” Bradley Whitford) without having seen either Marc Camoletti’s French play or the Jerry Lewis/Tony Curtis ’60s movie based on it, so when a friend questioned why I would be interested to see a show based on a guy having silultaneous affairs with three airline stewardesses, I had to confess that it didn’t sound like the kind of show I usually would enjoy.
And while the plot doesn’t get much more complicated than that, there are some funny lines, good physical comedy and timing that has made it popular with theatregoers and which have earned it a Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Play.
Whitford plays Bernard, who thinks he’s living the perfect bachelor’s life in 1960s France juggling three airline “hostess” fiances. It’s all about the timetables, he tells Robert, his visiting unwordly, naïve Midwestern friend, ably played by Mark Rylance, Tony nominated for leading actor in a play for this role. Gloria, Gabriella and Gretchen, the objects of Bernard’s affection, or at least lust, are played by Kathryn Hahn, Gina Gershon and an atypically cast but Tony nominated Mary McCormack (also of “West Wing”). Christine Baranski steals the show, however, as Berthe, Bernard’s wisecracking, complaining housekeeper who tries to help him keep track of which hostess with which food preferences is in the apartment at any given time (and it’s hard to imagine Ryland and McCormack getting Tony nods over her). Predictably, timetable and weather conditions force complications for Bernard and Robert is enlisted to help keep the women from finding out about each other.
Overall, I liked Director Matthew Warchus and Scenic and Costume Designer Rob Howell’s retro, but updated look and feel for the show, although it could have been edited to 90 minutes with no intermission. Sound issues resulted in some dropped dialog. It also seemed to me that Berthe looked just like Edna E Mode, a character in Disney’s animated film “The Incredibles.” In a Playbill interview, Ms. Baranski said she helped create the look, but didn’t mention whether Edna was an influence and an inquiry to the show’s press agent went unanswered, so I give you photos of both Berthe and Edna above and you can decide for yourself.
There was humor in the show and the pleasure of Ms. Baranski’s performance, but I could never fully engage with a plot that suggested it was acceptable for Bernard to have affairs with three women while deceiving them all about the depth of his feelings. It all does work out all right in the end, and Berthe is a voice of conscience which keeps the show and Bernard reminded of values, but she’s not enough to overcome dialog and actions that suggest morals are unnecesssary.
Christians might be interested to know:
The show carries a “Mature” advisory
Contains sexually suggestive kisses, dialogue and touching
The Lord’s name is used twice: “Thank the Lord!” and “Oh, God!”