Boeing-Boeing takes off at Walterdale Theatre

Boeing-Boeing now playing at Walterdale Theatre is bit of relic, a dated farce where a Paris-based lothario is simultaneously engaged to three air hostesses.

Yes, that’s what female flight attendants were called 60 years ago.

Bernard is an American businessman juggling love affairs with three air hostesses when they briefly touch down at his apartment between flights.

With his keen organization of flight schedules and the help of a constantly complaining housekeeper, Berthe, he hopes to dupe his fiancés indefinitely.

Bernard’s three stewardesses, who are completely in the dark about each other, are Gloria (American), Gretchen (German) and Gabriella (Italian).

As captain of his home, Bernard believes his well-oiled machine of deceit will go on indefinitely, however a collision is in the works when flights are unexpectedly changed.

Much of the play’s comedy surfaces after Bernard’s old friend Robert, newly arrived from Wisconsin, flies in for a visit just as the three airhostesses are about to stay the night.

Called upon to concoct lies and physically keep the beauties from meeting each other, the sexually inexperienced Robert proves to be a master of improv.

No matter how much the men believe they’re running the show, these two goofy guys are completely oblivious to the fact that estrogen has a power of its own.

Michah Steinke nicely slips into the skin of Bernard, the self-centred Romeo. And Zack Siezmagraff Robert is quite funny as the guileless Midwestern hick continually called upon to save Bernard’s bacon.

Former St. Albert resident Carrie Candy as the bombastic, buxom Gretchen gives a mercurial performance. Vina Nguyen’s Gloria slithers beautifully across the stage as the cold, calculating Gloria, and Elianna Parrado at the other end of the spectrum is the emotional, loving Gabriella.

Yes, the three air hostesses are tired of having their feelings ignored and retribution is in the works. Even Berthe (Heather Patton), with Jean Chretien style accent, dishes out her own style of passive-aggressive punishment.

Boeing-Boeing hovers between high and low comedy and touches down somewhere after two hours.