By John Quinn
"Boeing Boeing" opens the Hilberry Theatre's 52nd season. Photo: Hilberry Theatre"Timing is everything."
That fact was observed, not only by the long-time Hilberry Theatre patron seated on my right, but by guest director Lenny Banovez, co-founder and artistic director of New York City's Titan Theatre Company, in his director's note. While the adage is true of all plays, its application is never more critical than in the comic sub-genre, farce. Long-time patrons of the Hilberry will recall that the company explored farce in its infancy last season with Moliere's "A Doctor in Spite of Himself." This year we experience farce matured with Marc Camoletti's 1960 hit, "Boeing Boeing."
The French have a phrase for it. "A chacun son gout – "To each one his taste." "Hit" can be a relative term when culture is factored in. "Boeing, Boeing" is the most popular French play ever, but it closed after only 23 performances in its 1965 Broadway run. The 2008 revival, though, won two Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards, so maybe tastes change. Certainly the definition of "erotic" has changed, since this "erotic farce" derives its comedy from the traditional building blocks of character and situation, rather than shock or innuendo.
But make no mistake – Bernard (Brandon Grantz) is an utter cad. Enjoying mid-century joie de vivre in Paris, Bernard is something of a sexual juggler – balancing three engagements, all at the same time. His secret? They're all "air hostesses" on international airlines, and he knows their schedules down to the minute. Thus his unsophisticated American girl, Gloria (Sarah Hawkins Moan), his fiery Italian inamorata, Gabriella (Annie Keris), or his Lufthansa lover Gretchen (Bevin Bell-Hall) don't suspect that she's not his one-and-only. He's safe – as long as faster planes, tail winds and mid-Atlantic storms don't upset the schedules.
But this is farce, so of course there are complications – not only for Bernard, but for his overwrought cook, Bert (Miles Boucher) and his visiting pal from Wisconsin, Robert (Brandy Joe Plambeck).
There's real comic power in Camoletti's script; there's real comic joy in the English version by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans. Rarely do you find a translation that flows so well in colloquial English. But wit is only part of the charm of "Boeing, Boeing." Director Banovez refers to farce as "the most difficult style of comedy." "Farce, at its best, is an articulate portrayal of chaos or 'controlled chaos,' if you will."
This is a tremendously physical production, yet his careful choices never let farce bleed into slapstick. While the cast demonstrates a fine example of ensemble acting, performances of the more absurd characters are memorable. These include Plambeck as the American in Paris man-child; Bell-Hall's take on Gretchen's Wagnerian-sized emotions; and Boucher's skill at turning the character of a snooty woman housekeeper, "Berthe," into downright snotty "Bert" the cook.
A standard of farce is the fast entrance – or exit. To this end, Michael Sabourin's scenic design spans the wide Hilberry stage to accommodate seven – count 'em – seven doors. Above the living room set soar eye-catching silhouettes of a Parisian skyline. Lighting designer Tom Schraeder shows solid craftsmanship in the warm, even glow that marks the apartment lighting, and a playful whimsy in the rich backlighting of the silhouettes. John Woodland's costumes are stylishly retro, particularly the eye-popping primary colors of the ladies' flight uniforms.
As the Hilberry Theatre enters its 52nd season, it's time to give pause and reflect on its significance. Its fundamental purpose is to provide an advanced education in the performing arts. They're graciously letting us tag along. We've watched Boucher move from Macbeth to the comedic Bert, and Plambeck play both the Marquis de Sade and the hapless Robert. That's just to name two of the artists who are expanding their potential under this program. What an education the audience gets on their journey!
So happy 52nd, Hilberry. Many happy returns.
REVIEW:
'Boeing Boeing'
Hilberry Theatre
4743 Cass Ave., Detroit
2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 (post-show talkback)
8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 (preshow discussion), Oct. 2
8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, Oct. 3
2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, Sept. 27, Oct. 4
2 hours, 20 minutes
$10-30
313-577-2972
http://www.hilberry.com
