BOEING BOEING | STAGE REVIEW
Blackwood Miners’ Institute, Thurs 3 Oct
Previous years have brought Black Rat Productions much success with Up and Under and Neville’s Island could they do it again with Boeing Boeing, a classic farce written in 1962 by Mark Camoletti?
The play takes place in the 1960s, in Bernard’s living room – a fabulous set with six doors. Bernard (Richard Corgan) is engaged to three airhostesses. He runs his life on a tight schedule with the use of airline timetables and Bertha, his Anne Heggarty-esque maid (Julie Barclay) who is getting more and more confused by the comings and goings of America (Hannah Whittingham), France (Laura Clements), and Germany (Sarah Jayne Hopkins). To complicate things further, Bernard’s best friend turns up unannounced and a good ole romp ensues.
As is usual with Black Rat Productions there are tremendous performances all round, but the star of the show has to be Gareth Bale as Robert, the clueless friend. This comedy is fast and physical: the doors are utilised, the timing impeccable, and it’s amazing how the cast keep it up. And as predictable as farce is, the ending of Boeing Boeing did come as a surprise.
The choice of play may have been an odd, one but no one can fault Black rat Productions on technical ability, stamina and the ability to engage – when actors are having a good time the audience does too. The renditions of sixties hits at the end is a bonus.
words: LYNDA NASH
photo: EMYR YOUNG