Boeing-Boeing is a farce written by the French playwright Marc Camoletti. The English-language adaptation, translated by Beverley Cross, was first staged in London at the Apollo Theatre in 1962 and transferred to the Duchess Theatre in 1965, running for seven years.^[1] In 1991, the play was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world.

Synopsis

The play is set in the 1960s, and centres on bachelor Bernard, who has a flat in Paris and three airline stewardesses all engaged to him without knowing about each other. Bernard's life gets bumpy, though, when his friend Robert comes to stay, and complications such as weather and a new, speedier Boeing jet disrupt his careful planning. Soon, all three stewardesses are in the city simultaneously and catastrophe looms.

Characters

• Bernard– a Parisian architect and lothario (turned into an American who resides in Paris in the most recent Broadway production)
• Berthe– Bernard's French housekeeper
• Robert– Bernard's old school chum (from Wisconsin)
• Jaqueline (or Gabriella)– the French fiancée (or the Italian fiancée) and air hostess
• Janet (or Gloria)– the American fiancée and air hostess
• Judith (or Gretchen)– the German fiancée and air hostess

Productions

The English version of the play was first staged in London's West End at the Apollo Theatre in 1962 with David Tomlinson in the lead role and then transferred to the Duchess Theatre in 1965, running for seven years.^[1] After a year in the play, Tomlinson was replaced by Leslie Phillips, who played in it for two years. He was then replaced by Nicholas Parsons, who played in it for 15 months.

The play was produced on Broadway at the Cort Theatre from February 2, 1965, closing on February 20, 1965, after 23 performances.^[2][3][4] Directed by Jack Minster, the cast included Ian Carmichael, Susan Carr, Diana Millay, and Gerald Harper.

The play was also on in Blackpool at the South Pier during 1967, and featured Vicki Woolf, Dandy Nichols, Hugh Lloyd, Ann Sidney, and Christina Taylor.

In 1978, the play was produced in Kansas City, featuring Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow of Leave it to Beaver. ^[5]

The play was adapted by W!LD RICE production in Singapore in 2002. It was directed by Glen Goei; Glen and the company revisited, modernized, and relocated this comedy to Asia and the present day, whilst keeping faithful to the text and the spirit of the play. The three air hostesses's nationalities were changed to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. The show starred Lim Yu-Beng, Pam Oei, Emma Yong, Chermaine Ang, Sean Yeo, and Mae Paner-Rosa.^[6]

Boeing-Boeing was revived in London in February 2007 at the Comedy Theatre in a production directed by Matthew Warchus. Once again, the play 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.^[7] Elena Roger later took on the role of Gabriella.

Warchus also directed the 2008 Broadway revival, which started previews on April 19, 2008, and opened on May 4 at the Longacre Theatre to good reviews.^[8] The cast featured Christine Baranski as Berthe, Mark Rylance, reprising his role as Robert, Bradley Whitford as Bernard, Gina Gershon as Gabriella, Mary McCormack as Gretchen, and Kathryn Hahn as Gloria. The curtain call of this revival was choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with original music by Claire van Kampen.^[9] The production closed on January 4, 2009, after 279 performances and 17 previews.^[10] A 45-week North American tour began in fall 2009.^[11] The production won the Best Revival of a Play and Rylance won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor. The production was nominated for several other Tony Awards including: Best Featured Actress (Mary McCormack), Best Director (Matthew Warchus), Best Costume Design (Rob Howell) and Best Sound Design (Simon Baker). The production won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play, and Mark Rylance won for lead actor in a play.^[12]

2007 West End revival

2008 Broadway

^[13]

Adaptations

• Boeing Boeing (1965 film), American film adapted by Edward Anhalt with John Rich directing, stars Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis and Thelma Ritter, released by Paramount Pictures
• Motarda Gharameya (1968 film), Egyptian film starring Fouad el-Mohandes, Shwikar and Abdel Moneim Madbouly.
• Boeing Boeing (1985 film), Malayalam film adaptation by Priyadarshan starring Mohanlal, Mukesh, and M. G. Soman
• Chilakkottudu, Telugu film adaption by E. V. V. Satyanarayana starring Jagapati Babu and Rajendra Prasad
• Garam Masala (2005 film), Hindi film adaptation by Priyadarshan starring Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, and Paresh Rawal
• Nee Tata Naa Birla, Kannada film adaptation.