BWW Reviews: BOEING BOEING at Seattle Rep - Nicely Naughty Hilarity

They just don't make good door slammer farces like they used to. Perhaps we've lost the sensibilities to come up with new ideas that make these tales of mistaken identity, concealed trysts and ridiculous characters funny. But luckily we still have old chestnuts like "Boeing Boeing", currently playing at the Seattle Rep, and people like director Allison Narver who understand what it takes to bring these tales to life and make them gut-bustingly funny.

This slightly naughty tale involves 60's playboy Bernard (Richard Nguyen Sloniker), an American architect living in Paris. Bernard has a life that most men would kill for; a spacious and swanky bachelor pad, a devoted maid and cook Berthe (Anne Allgood), oh and three sexy flight attendant fiancés. Yes, three. Bernard has worked out a scheme where these three lovely ladies; the brash American Gloria (Bhama Roget), the kittenish Italian Gabriella (Angela DiMarco) and the dynamic German Gretchen (Cheyenne Casebier); are completely oblivious that the others exist due to their flight schedules never putting them in Paris at the same time. But all good things must come to an end as the introduction of the new and faster Super Boeing will upset Bernard's timetable and risk exposing his complex little secret. And if that weren't enough, in drops Robert (Mark Bedard), Bernard's old college buddy who's dropped into the middle of the chaos on the night that all these secrets must come to a head.

Before I get to the absolute hilarity of the cast I must mention the dream team of designers who have pulled off a magnificent world in which the actors can play. The stunningly gorgeous set from Carey Wong not only elicited applause as soon as the curtain rose but also contained enough hidden tricks and gadgets to make James Bond envious. Add into that some gorgeous and stylistically perfect costumes from Frances Kenny, wonderfully telling mood lighting from L.B. Morse and spot on sound design from Robertson Witmer and what Narver has assembled is a completely immersive world that almost told its own story.

But a good farce is nothing without good people to slam those doors and Narver has an ensemble that any director would envy. Sloniker's suave playboy mixed with his desperation makes him a sublime man-child to be at the center of all this duplicity. The three high flying beauties look to be having entirely too much fun in the roles and couldn't be more enjoyable. And each of them offset the others wonderfully. DiMarco with her stern yet meekish Italian, Roget with her free-wheeling and modern American and Casebier with her bold and powerful German take what could be three insipid victims and make them three strong and intelligent women all blinded by love. And I have to add that I've seen Casebier in a few things over the years and she's always wonderful but usually in more dramatic roles. Which leads me to ask, my God, why don't people put her in more comedies?! She's hysterical! And she can Frug like nobody's business. The ever brilliant Allgood takes the role of the meddling and complicit maid and completely runs off with it. In fact one moment from her had the audience (myself included) laughing so hard that the actors just had to stand there for a good minute waiting for it to die down. And then there's Bedard. This man is the epitome of what I would call a comedy genius. Yes, I said genius. Not only is his timing impeccable and facial expressions and character intent outstanding, but he achieved some of the most dazzling physical comedy I think I've ever seen. Too many instances to mention here but I have to say his ongoing battle with his luggage was worth the price of admission alone. I've never seen him in anything else before but friends who frequent the Oregon Shakespeare Festival can't help but spout his praises and now I see why. If the Seattle theater community has any sense they will kidnap Bedard and never let him leave.

OK, I'll stop gushing now so you can order your tickets. Suffice to say, I don't think I have laughed that hard and consistently in a show for quite some time. So, if you want a good time, catch this show before it flies away.

"Boeing Boeing" performs at the Seattle Rep through May 19^th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Rep box office at 206-443-2222 or visit them online at www.seattlerep.org.

Photo credit: Chris Bennion

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