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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Boeing Boeing Also see Gil's reviews of Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical and Single Black Female
The story centers on Bernard, a bachelor living in Paris who has cleverly arranged his life around three airline stewardess fiancées. Because their flight schedules never overlap, he believes he can maintain separate relationships with each woman without them ever discovering the others. His carefully balanced world begins to crumble when flight delays, bad weather, and changes in airline schedules bring all three women to Paris at the same time. With the unexpected arrival of his old friend Robert and the watchful presence of his housekeeper, Berthe, Bernard scrambles to keep the women apart with Robert's assistance while the increasingly frantic situation spirals into comic chaos. As Robert, Bernard's friend who quickly becomes entangled in the farce, Hector Coris delivers the most delightfully zany performance of the evening. His wide-eyed reactions and mounting panic provide many of the show's biggest laughs, and he embraces the physical comedy with gusto. Van Rockwell offers a confident and charismatic portrayal of Bernard, the central schemer whose romantic juggling act drives the plot, anchoring the story while navigating the increasingly absurd situations with charm. He makes a good straight man foil to Coris' chaotic Robert. Berthe, the long-suffering housekeeper who is far less amused by Bernard's antics to juggle the three women, is portrayed by Sylvia Gabriel with a wonderful dry wit and perfectly timed exasperation. The three flight attendants represent three distinct personalities in the production. As Gloria, Emily Davis provides an air of confidence and fiery determination. As Gretchen, Veronica Harris is delightfully intense and passionate, and Marissa Tualla brings a playful sense of feistiness to Gabriella. Each actress clearly differentiates her character, which helps keep the escalating confusion clear and entertaining, and Harris' hilarious depiction of Gretchen rises up to the insanity that Coris brings. Justin Harris' direction keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, an essential ingredient for any successful farce. Doors open and close constantly as characters rush in and out of the apartment trying to avoid one another. On opening night, the door-slamming moments were not always as sharp as they could be, but were still very well timed and these sequences will likely become quicker and more precise as the run continues. Also, while some of the performances are slightly less zany than Coris' exuberant portrayal of Robert, the overall ensemble works well together. Harris and Laura Vines' set design perfectly captures Bernard's apartment, and Vines' costumes effectively evoke the period setting. Ghostlight's production of Boeing Boeing delivers much of what audiences hope for in this classic farce: fast-paced comedy, colorful characters, and a healthy dose of theatrical chaos. With a committed cast and lively staging, it is a thoroughly humorous night at the theatre. Boeing Boeing runs through March 22, 2026, at Ghostlight Theatre, 13541 West Camino Del Sol, Sun City West AZ. For ticket and information, please visit www.ghostlightaz.com or call 623-777-9717 Director/ Choreographer: Justin Harris Cast: (in order of appearance) |
