Boeing Boeing cast, Bryan Smith, Marcia Upshaw and Joel McCormic. Front: Kelly Snead, Jo-Elsa Jordan and Courtney Fox.
By Scott Richards
The Caroline Community Theatre took their latest production, a comedy by Marc Camoletti, “Boeing Boeing,” to new heights. The comic farce, portrayed what has become this troupe’s flair for taking the audience with them into the story, “Boeing Boeing” tells of an architect in Paris who is engaged to three different airline stewardesses from different countries and the madcap antics that occur when all three land in Paris at the same time. As if the basic premise was not enough, Bertrand, the architect, receives a visit from an old school chum, Robert, who immediately becomes involved in the chaos.
For those who have followed the Theatre, regulars Bryan Smith as the lothario Bernard, and Joel McCormick, as his friend Robert from school, returned to the stage to lead in the comedic hijinks in a way only they can. Smith was spot on with a personality that always shines when on the stage. When he and McCormick are together, it is guaranteed that there will be no holds barred on the laughter that proceeds.
Jo-Elsa Jordan, another regular, livened up the stage as she always does, portraying the German finance, Gretchen. Kelly Snead, who normally is behind the scenes, made a stellar appearance as the Italian love, Gabriella, complete with an Italian accent and Courtney Fox played the American counterpart, Gloria, being every bit the typical American character, down to the attitude. The anchor to the entire play was Bernard’s French housekeeper, Berthe, who provided the only sanity in the entire production. Portrayed by Marcia Upshaw, she held to her role with aplomb, giving the impression the audience should feel sorry for her character, being thrust in the situation as she was.
This high flying comedy started a bit slow, but soon took off, and by the time it ended, the entire house was found to be hilariously engaged in what can only be described as a masterfully manufactured catastrophe of complete and side splitting confusion. The actors pulled off what easily could have been a disaster and made for those in attendance a delightful evening of good solid comedy.
The 2015-16 season appears to be more of what patrons have come to love from this group, with Murder in the Tonylou Awards coming in October 2015, followed by their Christmas production of Greetings. The season ends (sadly) with The Foreigner in April, 2016.