The Broadway play Boeing Boeing posted its closing notice today. As yet another Broadway show succumbs to the failing economy, it seemed like a great time to offer my (humble, as I actually know nothing about theatre) review. After all, what better time for a review than in the last few weeks available to see a performance? I know, I’m thoughtful like that. Boeing Boeing appeared on Broadway in 1965 but flopped; now the French farce has made a comeback. This show won the Tony this year for best revival of a play, and Mark Rylance won for best actor in a play (more to come on him later!).
I’m not normally a huge play fan (I’m more of a musical fan) as I usually find plays to be way too reliant on actors’ talent and not nearly peppy enough for me. I’m all about the songs. Really, if you can’t relive the show through an original cast recording, what’s the point? However, I convinced my mom we had to see Boeing Boeing when we traveled to NY at the beginning of the summer, mainly because of Bradley Whitford and Christine Baranski. We had just seen November, the David Mamet play staring Nathan Lane, and had come away disappointed. While there were certainly amusing parts, seldom did November become laugh-out-loud funny, nor were most of the gags able to sustain the strain put upon them by the cast. Similar to most SNL skits recently, it seemed the joke was funny the first time, but got old quickly.
In short summary, the plot of Boeing Boeing is that Bradley Whitford is a businessman in Paris who is dating three airline stewardesses at one time (played by Gina Gershon, Kathryn Hahn, and Mary McCormack), having perfected their flight schedules. Christine Baranski plays his fed-up French maid, not to be confused with the cliché sexy French maid. Mark Rylance is his American friend who comes to visit just as Bradley Whitford’s schedules are coming unraveled and gets caught up in his crazy lifestyle. Corny, huh? You think this play cannot possibly be funny, but the actors are so incredibly talented that they pulled it off perfectly. There is a large amount of physical comedy, but it does not skimp on intelligent humor. Indeed, I actually laughed the entire show. I saw it months into its run, but the cast was still clearly enjoying themselves, which is not as common as you’d think when you see performances actors have given hundreds of times.
Finally, I must devote an entire paragraph to Mark Rylance. He’s not well known in the states, as most of his career has focused on Shakespearean theatre in London, but he has become one of my favorite actors (yes, even compared to DHP, my one true love!). If I hadn’t fallen in love with him after his spectacular performance in Boeing Boeing, his award speech at the Tonys would have sealed the deal. I haven’t yet figured out how to upload videos, but I strongly urge anyone reading to search online and watch it, it will change the way you view life. There are also rumors floating around about a national tour, and if this happens, you all must take the opportunity to see this show, because trust me, Broadway has never been as funny.
