A ROLLICKING French farce entitled ‘Boeing-Boeing’, by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverly Cross, was the choice of Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society for their spring production, which recently ran for six performances at the HATS theatre, writes Christine Williams.

In 1960s Paris a successful bachelor ‘Bernard’ has worked out a perfect system. Engaged to three airhostesses he manages to keep them apart and unaware of each other thanks to the airline flight schedules, which ensure that each fiancée spends much of her time away. What could possibly go wrong?

The fun begins when Bernard’s old school-friend ‘Robert’ comes to visit on the very day that Bernard’s fiancées’ schedules are disrupted. Suddenly all three women are in town at the same time, and Bernard, Robert and Bernard’s housekeeper ‘Bertha’ have their hands full trying to keep the women from bumping into each other.

With a threat of impending disaster, inevitably the cosy love nest rapidly disintegrates into slamming doors, disrobing women and general chaos. All this means there are great roles for actors requiring excellent comic timing and, with their brisk entrances and exits and finely tuned dialogue, the cast rose to the challenge.

Alan Styles as Bernard did a great job as he took the audience on a hazardous but hilarious descent from smooth ladies’ man to a bundle of nerves. Terina Ellacott excelled as Bertha, Bernard’s long suffering underpaid housekeeper as she prepared food she detested to assist her employer to keep to his hectic schedule.

Her deadpan, exasperated comments on the goings-on were delivered with good comedic effect. As Bernard’s visiting friend Robert, Stuart Davey, also showed his talent for comedy as he was transformed from inexperienced small-town man up from the South to confident man about town. His facial reactions were priceless as he finds himself being pulled further and further into the deception.

All three fiancées brought their own unique personalities and accents to their roles as the airhostesses. Sarah Leach was fun as ‘Gloria’, the self-assured and flirty American with an agenda all of her own, which was not revealed until late in the play. Ellie Skuse shone as the no-nonsense very Italian and boisterous ‘Gabriella’.

In the role of the domineering ‘Gretchen’, Jodie Lawson’s superb timing and convincing German accent were terrific. Played with a mixture of vulnerability and German officiousness the chemistry between her and Stuart Davey as they fell in love was one of highlights of the play.

The simple set of a living room with several doors, supposedly leading to various bedrooms and the kitchen, was effective and the wardrobe and props department did well to create the brightly coloured flattering airhostess costumes and procure the TWA, Al Italia and Lufthansa travel bags.

On the Saturday evening with a big smile on his face one member of the audience was heard to remark as he left the theatre, ‘I’m glad my life isn’t as complicated as that!’

It was a delightful and hilarious production of which director Kay Napier can be proud. Thanks to her and the talented cast the audience enjoyed two and a half hours of pure escapism and laughter.