43
NEW CASTLE PLAYHOUSE ‘Boeing, Boeing’ doesn’t quite hit flight speed
By David L. MUNNELL
New Castle, Pa.
What do you get when you combine three flight attendants — an American, an Italian and a German — into one American businessman’s French apartment? You get an evening at the New Castle Playhouse with the French bedroom comedy “Boeing, Boeing.”
Set in the swinging ’60s, “Boeing, Boeing” probably is most known for the film adaptation starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. To give you an indication of what kind of show you’re getting yourself into, the original tagline was “The Big Comedy of Nineteen Sexty-Sex!” Not exactly subtle. The plot of the story surrounds a well-to-do American architect living in Paris named Bernard, played by Jeff Carey, and his attempts to juggle his three fiancees, who happen to be three flight attendants from three different airlines. There is Gloria, the figure-conscious American, played by Delila Danch; Gabriella, the fiery Italian, played by Ashley Lefever; and finally, Gretchen, the overzealous German, played by Caryn Leslie.
Aiding him in his endeavors to keep the ladies from finding out about each other is Bernard’s maid, Berthe, played by Renee Cuerden, and his old friend and former schoolmate, Robert, played by Aaron Zimmerman.
Carey as Bernard is the straight man in the comedy. His delivery is that of the well-measured and critical thinking individual he is portraying. This kills the pace in the beginning of the production, but later, as the show begins to move forward, it becomes necessary to have his rhythm involved.
Of the three ladies playing the flight attendants, the standout of the evening was Leslie as Gretchen, the German. Her antics onstage are quite hysterical and rise to the appropriate level compared with the rest of the shenanigans. Danch and LeFever aren’t bad, but their approach to the characters is underwhelming so that when they finally do have their heightened moments, it feels out of place and random.
Cuerdan as Berthe the dry, wise-cracking maid has excellent timing as she quips and dogs the two male actors about their plot. However, it took me quite awhile into the first scene to figure out that she was, in fact, a French maid as her accent is so deplorable I thought she was German. Then Italian. Then Japanese.
Finally, Zimmerman as Robert, the quiet, jittery Wisconsinite who happens to be dropped into the whole mess does a fantastic job copying the slapstick styling of Jerry Lewis (who played Robert in the film). I would be more interested, however, to see such a talented performer make a more original choice rather than mimicking another actor’s work.
If you’re a fan of Jerry Lewis and the old thoroughly mod sexcapades of the 1960s, then go see “Boeing, Boeing” playing at the New Castle Playhouse.
Performances are Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through June 16. For tickets or more information, call 724-654-3437, or go to www.newcastleplayhouse.org.