Kenai Performers stage French farce ‘Boeing Boeing’

The slam of doors punctuate the comings and goings of a colorful cast of characters in the Kenai Performers’ latest show, “Boeing Boeing.” Actors and director called it a light, wacky show about an airline pilot whose life begins to crack at the seams when his three fiancées all end up in his apartment at the same time. The show runs two weekends, Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3.

Director Braeden Garrett said Monday that “Boeing Boeing” is a farce, “a comedy genre of sorts” driven by outlandish, heightened incidents that simultaneously would never happen in real life while also finding roots and touchstones to reality. The show was translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans, written in 1960 by French playwright Marc Camoletti.

“Boeing Boeing” centers on Bernard, portrayed by Jamie Nelson, an airline pilot with three fiancées — all of whom are airline stewardesses of different nationalities. He balances these relationships carefully and successfully, until a series of circumstances puts all three women in town at once — as well as an old pal Robert, played by Ian McEwen.

Garrett has worked to stage the show for a couple of years, even having it included on the Kenai Performers’ schedule last season. Seeing the show on stage is cathartic, he said, and the production has been an opportunity to work with a trusting cast willing to push their performances and explore the material to comedic ends.

Nelson said that Bernard thinks he has everything figured out, “finds out the hard way that that’s not always true.” He echoed Garrett’s sentiments about comedy — that it’s driven best by characters who don’t know they’re in a comedy, facing real stakes.

Garrett’s directing is thoughtful, Nelson said, which has driven a character-focused development throughout the production — only hastened when sets and props began to come together. The result is “an absurd comedy, with lots of fun and quite a bit of heart.”

McEwen directed Garrett last year in “Jekyll and Hyde.” The two now have their roles reversed. McEwen said he’s excited to spend some time back on the other side of the production, “flexing the acting muscles again.”

The show demanded a lot of those muscles, especially in regards to the sheer number of words McEwen is responsible for as Bernard’s friend, who stumbles into the apartment and the web of relationships.

The cast also features Garrett’s wife, Alyeska, and her sister, Elan Krull, who play two of the fiancées, Gretchen and Gabriella. The cast is rounded out by Amy Dawn-Day as the third, Gloria.

The stage and audience are uniquely fully enclosed by walls, which Garrett said will bring the audience more wholly into the apartment setting. It also has seven entrances — used to comedic effect by the actors throughout the show.

The constant door slamming, Alyeska said, is a highlight.

“It’s chaos,” she said. “Every time one person leaves, another person enters. It’s the puzzle pieces of all these people coming together — who aren’t supposed to be together.”

Acting with the Kenai Performers in this show, Alyeska said, means sharing a stage with her sister and with folks she’s never worked with before, like Dawn-Day. It’s special to gather people across “walks of life” to put on a show.

“It’s not often we get to do straight comedy shows,” Alyeska said. “It’s nice to laugh for two-and-a-half hours or so.”

Krull said the 1960s setting was a large draw — the set dressing, costumes, make up and references. That said, it’s the “hilarity of Bernard’s life” that drives the show — especially when the women get to enjoy watching Bernard and Robert squirm.

Dawn-Day said she’s returning to acting after an 18-year hiatus, for the first time since high school and for the first time with the Kenai Performers. She said she’s long wanted to get back onstage, but promised herself to wait until she’d completed her master’s degree and seen her kids grow “a little bit older.”

In “Boeing Boeing,” Dawn-Day said she found a show that’s “ridiculous,” but also one that encourages herself and others to “find your power.”

Donna Shirnberg, who acts as Bernard’s housekeeper and serves as producer for the production, said that the show offers laughs and light that arrive just in time as the performers shift away from their last show — the much heavier “Bullying Collection and Girl in the Mirror.”

The ‘60s setting, Shirnberg said, allows for retro costumes, fun set pieces, and plenty of laughs.

Putting on “Boeing Boeing” was daunting, Garrett said. It’s the first full-scale theater production he’s helmed — more demanding than a couple of dinner theater shows he’s previously worked on. A comedy, too, comes with unique challenge.

Through partnership with Addie Camp, airline-themed food and cocktails will be available at each show.

Addie Camp will also host a special dinner and a show option for both Friday showings, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. A $75 ticket, purchased from Addie Camp rather than from the Kenai Performers website, is good for a three-course meal at 4:30 p.m. at Addie Camp, then admission to the show at 7 p.m. at the Kenai Performers theater.

As winter approaches, the nights grow longer, political discourse fills heads, and finances are drawn to the front of people’s minds. McEwen said comedies, especially at this time of year, are appealing.

“It’s so much fun to be able to come in and entertain people for a couple of hours,” he said. “Hopefully, let them laugh and forget what’s going on outside this theater.”

Garrett, similarly, said he’s ready to bring some of that levity to audiences.

“I’m really excited for people to come and see it,” Garrett said. “It’s hilarious, it’s so fun. I can’t wait.”

The show runs two weekends, Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m., while Sundays are a matinee at 2 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, find “Kenai Performers” on Facebook. Tickets to the Addie Camp dinner and a show can be purchased by calling the restaurant at 907-262-2334.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.