Boeing Boeing – A Fun Ride On An Old Classic

Boeing Boeing

As the lights dimmed and the last few people made their way to their seats, I turned to my friend and said they should play the message tone familiar to anyone who’s hopped on a plane. Moments later, there it was, that familiar sound, followed by a tongue-in-cheek announcement mimicking cabin crew telling us the onboard entertainment would be live. It made me smile like a little kid getting ice cream. In an instant, I knew this was going to be fun, and I settled in for take-off.

Marc Camoletti’s Boeing Boeing has been a theatre staple since its first French production in 1960, even made into a movie starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. Set in 1960s Paris, contemporary at the time, it’s aged into a retro comedy about a deceitful Lothario, Bernard, juggling three separate fiancés who are all air hostesses. Thanks to alternating airline schedules, each comes home for a short time believing they’re Bernard’s one true love while remaining oblivious to the others. The energetic farce kicks off when Bernard’s old friend Robert arrives, and interruptions to the schedules throw the routine into chaos, sending the women into a turbulent collision course.

Michael Mulvenna seems at ease playing the womanising Bernard, oozing sophistication and charm in the early stages and then descending into panic and terror as he loses control. Each of his three fiancés in their colour-coded uniform brought their characters to life with exaggerated accents and outstanding energy.

In red, there’s the confident and sassy American, Gloria (Laura Stead); in blue is the fiery and temperamental Italian, Gabriella (Gabrielle Rawlings); and in yellow, the carnal and loud German, Gretchen (Cassandra Gorman). (As an aside, the sets and costume design are terrific.) Luke Baweja does a great job as the nervous Robert, trying desperately to keep the women apart as they play musical rooms. His physical comedy often triggered the biggest laughs, and his manic nervousness created a sense of exhaustion whilst still allowing the fun to continue.

My highlight was Maggie Scott as Bernard’s long-suffering and grumpy maid, Bertha. Her sardonic French accent and defeated body language were constantly amusing, and she was a delight every time she shuffled onto the stage and sighed, ‘Yes, monsieur.’

While the play is a classic for good reason, the story risks becoming outdated, such as Bernard’s pride in his ‘clever’ deception and manipulation of women or Richard’s admiration of it. Luckily, it isn’t mean-spirited, and the women give as much as they get.

The play deals with Bernard’s womanising in a way that justice is served while still making everyone happy. Director Chrissie McIntyre rightfully focused on the tomfoolery and physical comedy to keep the audience laughing throughout. The cast attacked the material with energy and enthusiasm, which is vital in making a play like this work. It’s meant to be silly and fun, so if you don’t buy into the characters and absurdity of the situation, or if the actors hold back, you don’t laugh. Thankfully, I did, and so did everyone else.

Boeing Boeing is a fun, light-hearted retro romp that’s boarding at the Hunters Hills Theatre in Club Ryde until the 24th of March. Don’t miss your flight!

This review also appears on It’s On The House, and check out more reviews at Dark Stories Theatre to see what else is on in your town.

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Spudtastic – The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race

The Appleton Ladies Potato Race premiered at Hunters Hill Theatre earlier this month and has viewers take a trip to the rural town of Appleton.

The play, inspired by actual events, follows the return of city-trained doctor Penny to her rural hometown just in time for the annual potato race. The yearly potato race is the backdrop for an entertaining and thought-provoking tale.

The narrative centres around the return of city-trained doctor Penny (played by Caroline Lloyd) to her quaint rural hometown just in time for the much-anticipated potato race. However, the atmosphere takes a turn when Penny uncovers a startling disparity in the prize money – $1000 for men and $200 for women. The Appleton Ladies Potato Race shows Penny’s journey as she navigates small-town politics and challenges the status quo in her pursuit of justice.

The cast’s performances are nothing short of commendable. I felt the character of Nikki (played by Tonia Davis) captured the essence of rural life and was a standout performance. Caroline Lloyd as Penny perfectly blended city sophistication and small-town charm. The supporting cast also added some humour and authenticity to the play. As an ensemble, I think all the cast worked well together to keep us engaged.

Jennifer Willison was the director and really nailed getting to the characters’ hearts while keeping with the comedic elements. The set design echoes the charm of a small town with a beautiful backdrop and complementary sound design.

This play is a must-see for great storytelling and performance. It is successful in balancing entertainment with an exploration of societal issues. Bravo to the cast and crew for bringing this story to life on the stage. The Appleton Ladies Potato Race can be seen until December Third at Hunters Hill Theatre, so you better catch it while you can!

Remaining Sessions

  • Friday 1st Dec, 7:30pm
  • Saturday 2nd Dec, 2pm
  • Saturday 2nd Dec, 7:30pm
  • Sunday 3rd Dec, 2pm

Club Ryde, 728 Victoria Road, Ryde, 2112

This review also appears on It’s On The House, and check out more reviews at Dark Stories Theatre Reviews to see what else is on in your town.

Eavesdrop At The Vatican – Pope 2 Pope

Hunters Hill Theatre performed the world premiere of award winning Australian playwright Melvyn Morrow’s latest play, Pope2Pope, on Friday 18 August 2023. It was a play with religious themes that treads the fine line between comedy and some difficult truths. The director Elaine Hudson and the company did so with finesse and steady balance, cleverly staying on this line.

Pope2Pope, as the name suggests, was set inside the Mother of the Church Monastery, in the Vatican Gardens. The set design was simple but effective, with a traditional large red sofa on a red luxurious carpet taking centre stage. This repetition of colour spoke to me about power play, whilst in contrast on the right of the stage there was the Vatican’s gardens, a calm green scene filled with grass, herb pots and vine walls.

This is the closest we shall ever get to being a fly on the wall overhearing the conversation between two popes – one current, one pope emeritus (a pope which has been retired) inside the Vatican. And it is a conversation the audience wanted to follow, which in time revealed the underbelly of the Vatican and the papacy and other surprising secrets.

Graham Egan, as Pope Emeritus John XXIV portrayed his character’s personality perfectly. He was visually upbeat and appeared purposefully naturally loose with his movements and speech. In opposition to this character was Pope Pius XIII, played by Christopher Brown. He presented his character well, often seated ramrod straight backed on the red sofa and cut a serious and commanding presence. Sharron Olivier played Sister Angelica and a special mention must be made to her authentic sounding Italian accent as well as some great facial expressions which conveyed her character’s innermost thoughts.

Pope2Pope also gifts the audience with a brief history lesson involving some apparitions from the past with interesting stories, their costumes adding to their authenticity. I was impressed with Anthony Hunt’s performance of a certain character from the country. In the retelling of his story, Anthony added some real heart to the play.

Throughout the performance, the flow of conversation between the characters and aptly timed body language spoke to the audience clearly. At times, I found myself nodding along and relating to the cultural symbolism portrayed and at other times I was laughing at it.

Just before you enter the theatre, there was a table with a newspaper front page, some solid hardcover books about the popes and some religious items on it. When I saw the table walking in, it served to pique my interest in the upcoming play.

When I exited the theatre doors, I paused there to read the article from The Daily Telegraph dated February 2013. The headline read, “FIRST PONTIFF TO RESIGN IN 600 YEARS. POPE QUITS”. A real piece of history to supplement this well-rounded play.

Pope2Pope is performing at the Hunter’s Hill Theatre at Club Ryde, 728 Victoria Road, Ryde between the 18th August and the 3rd September 2023.

This review also appears on It’s On The House.

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Money Money Money – When Dad Married Fury

David Williamson’s When Dad Married Fury is a cheeky comedy that explores the tensions created in the family unit when inheritance is discussed, especially when a new, young, beauty-queen wife joins the picture. Hunters Hill Theatre’s production brings both the funny – and flawed – character traits to the fore whilst tackling the darker themes of the play.

The simple set lets all the tension and drama hold its own space. Red-painted walls and a giant lit-up dollar sign make it no secret what the play’s themes will be about. Clever staging choices also made certain scenes and themes stand out. For example, the character of Judy had just lost all her savings and house and was now living somewhere “too small for a cockroach”. Her primary place on the stage was in a cramped corner on a small lounge. The furnishings were simple and homey but did a great job representing her small and crowded new home.

While the musical score was minimal, intentionally allowing the drama on stage to unfold naturally, there were delightful and well-thought-out entrances for the father, Alan. These emphasised that Alan is a “smooth operator”, and David Kirkman’s strong acting exuded coolness.

Michael Richmond and Dave Went, who played the brothers, Ian and Ben, respectively, had great stage chemistry, and it was clear they were having a lot of fun bouncing off each other. A nice touch was when the actors gave each other a brotherly punch as they walked offstage after the audience applause. This may have been an opening-night-only-comradery, but it was a treat.

Moving to the more serious themes of the play, the character of Laura reminds the audience that the drama on the stage is so far detached from the grim reality of the political world around them. Although Laura requires broodiness and dismay in her portrayal, there is also much room for fun and lightness in her character. Melissa Jones shows the darker side of Laura well, but as the production season progresses, I hope Jones can experiment, play, and explore all that Laura has to offer.

Fury (Laura Stead), Alan (David Kirkham

Another serious theme the play explores is the harsh reality of financial risks. Whilst the brothers are fighting over who should get how many millions, Laura’s mother, Judy, is trying to adjust to her new life after her late husband lost all his money in Alan’s get-rich-quick scheme. Jan Johnson did a superb job drawing the audience in and pulling on their heartstrings. The passion in her monologue in Act 2 was amazing. Johnson’s Judy provided a definite sense of humanity to the monetary debate of inheritance.

Hunters Hill Theatre’s production of the play was simple yet effective. Excellent stage choices, great acting, and a cast that clearly enjoy each other’s on-stage company make this play a joy to watch.

When Dad Married Fury runs for two more weekends starting from 7:30 pm Friday 23rd June through to a closing matinee session on 2 pm Sunday 2nd July.

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