Watch and Wince as a Swinging 60s Bachelor’s Perfect Plans Dissolve into Chaos in this Classic Farce
Comic collisions and merry misunderstandings will provide plenty of laughs for Metro Detroit audiences as Avon Players presents the classic door-slamming, identity-mistaking farce Boeing, Boeing, Friday, January 19 through Saturday, February 3, 2018.
Boeing, Boeing at Avon Players
American expatriate Bernard (Patrick Butcher, Jr.) couldn’t be happier with his life in 1960s Paris. He has a well-appointed flat and three beautiful stewardess fiancées, each unaware of the others. His obsessive study of flight schedules and the efficiency of his grumbling housekeeper, Berthe (Lesa Bydalek), ensure that the stays of the take-charge American Gloria (Joy Oetjens), the lusty Italian Gabriella (Marie Burchi), and the dominating German Gretchen (Johannah Steinbrecher-Booker) are pleasant—if brief—and, most importantly, without complications. His scheme leaves his visiting unworldly boyhood friend, Robert (Patrick Daniels), dumfounded, but Bernard reassures him that “It’s geometrical. So precise as to be almost poetic.” Of course, this being a farce, the comic powder keg upon which Bernard has built his ordered world soon ignites, the fuse being the new speedier Boeing jets that obliterate the old stable schedules and put the three oblivious air hostesses in town at the same time.
Boeing, Boeing was originally a French-language play by Marc Camoletti. The English language adaptation, translated by Beverley Cross, ran in London’s West End for seven years. In 1965, Paramount Pictures produced a film adaptation starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. The 2008 Broadway revival starred Bradley Cooper as Bernard, Mark Rylance as Robert, as Christine Baranski as Berthe and earned two Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play and Best Actor for Rylance. The Guinness Book Of World Records list Boeing, Boeing as the most performed French play throughout the world.
Tickets for all shows are $18. Call 248-608-9077 for tickets or order online at www.AvonPlayers.org. Group rates are available by calling the box office. “Like” Avon Players Theatre on Facebook for special offers on tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. All seats are reserved. Show dates and times follow:
- Friday, January 19 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, January 20 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, January 21 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, January 26 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, January 27 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, January 28 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 2 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, February 3 8:00 p.m.
Cast and Production Staff by Community:
Attica
Marie Burchi (“Gabriella”)
Clinton Township
Patrick Daniels (“Robert”)
Davison
Dan Romzek (Director)
Ortonville
Joy Oetjens (“Gloria”)
Rochester
Patrick Butcher, Jr. (“Bernard”)
Mariana Gabriel (Make-up Design)
Mark Misch (Producer)
Rochester Hills
John (JD) Deierlein (Lighting and Set Design)
Peggy Deierlein (Properties Design)
Louise Holoday (Hair Design)
Michelle Kaiser (Costume Design)
Nick Kibler (Sound Design)
Shelby Township
Lesa Bydalek (“Berthe”)
Warren
Johannah Steinbrecher-Booker (“Gretchen”)
Founded in 1947, Avon Players is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre located along the winding banks of Stoney Creek in the quaint Historic District of Rochester Hills, only about two miles from the heart of downtown Rochester. Avon Players has been performing shows in its unique A-frame theater since 1965. With ticket prices set at a fraction of those at professional theatre (plus free parking and concessions on a donation basis) a family of four can experience a sensational live theatrical event for about the cost of one ticket at a “downtown” venue. And for regular theatre-goers, an affordable outing can be an even better bargain by taking advantage of Avon Players’ season ticket packages, which yield discounts of up to 21-percent per ticket. Plus, season ticket holders enjoy priority seating selection and voting privileges in Avon’s annual “Stoney Awards.” Additional information regarding tickets and productions is available by calling the Avon Players box office at 248-608-9077 or by visiting their website.
About Rochester Media