Laugh Along with the Hilarious Hijinks of Avon Players' BOEING, BOEING

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, January 19-February 3.

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.

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