Roleplay, the suspension of disbelief, the effort to sustain fantastical illusions under the beady scrutiny of others. Farce makes visible what theatre is all about – and can be its most fabulous expression. Such is the case with Matthew Warchus’s stylish revival of ‘Boeing-Boeing’, a creaky old French comedy recreated as something approaching sublime thanks to a crack cast on tip-top form.
The premise is deliciously reprehensible. Roger Allam’s Bernard is three-timing a trio of air hostesses, and meticulously plotting their comings, goings and near-misses with the help of the air-traffic timetable. Then one night his country bumpkin schoolfriend (Mark Rylance, with a Welsh accent, naturally) comes to stay, and Bernard’s scheme starts to veer off its flight path.
There may be more sleekly constructed models than Marc Camoletti’s 1961 play – and its credibility gaps yawn as worryingly as a hole in the wing. But that’s easy to ignore when the craft is piloted so brilliantly. Rylance plays the gormless Robert like an innocent child wandering into a brothel. Deception doesn’t suit him – you can hear the cogs whirring as, in the last ditch of Bernard’s defence, he must feign machismo, transvestitism (‘it’s not “illegal”, is it?!’) and love for the lady from Lufthansa.
In that role, Michelle Gomez ratchets up the German stereotypes to ruthlessly efficient comic effect. Frances de la Tour as the long-suffering maid gives a masterclass in timing and stillness. Allam’s performance is less eye-catching – save for the moment he reels backwards across the entire stage to express horror at his undoing. Like the whole show, it’s absolutely ridiculous – and absolutely terrific.
I cannot believe how anyone can have found anything even remotely amusing about this appallingly acted, outdated and mildly offensive nonsense. It is predicated on the idea that three beautiful women could be crazy about some hugely unattractive and slightly perverted buffoon and goes on from there to present the audience with excessive over-acting and situations that wouldn't even be funny if they were believable. There is actually a reason why the farce genre is no longer popular. I have seen better school plays - no, really I have!
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I cannot believe how anyone can have found anything even remotely amusing about this appallingly acted, outdated and mildly offensive nonsense. It is predicated on the idea that three beautiful women could be crazy about some hugely unattractive and slightly perverted buffoon and goes on from there to present the audience with excessive over-acting and situations that wouldn't even be funny if they were believable. There is actually a reason why the farce genre is no longer popular. I have seen better school plays - no, really I have!
superb!!!!
How can anybody say this is unfunny or boring. The storey may be old and predictable, but the pace is fast, timely acting and very funny.
Boeing Boeing, gone. Left after 15 mins. The theatre may have to change it's name under the trade descriptions act.
I found it extremely unfunny and bowring
It was absolutely hilarious, one great farce!
Great!