BWW Reviews: BOEING BOEING, Crucible, Sheffield, 19 May 2014

It makes a change for a farce to take centre stage at the Crucible, but Sheffield Theatres are celebrating this summer with their take on Boeing Boeing, Marc Camoletti's classic comedy about a man trying to keep up three relationships with air hostesses. Directed by Jonathan Humphreys, this is a pacy production of the play, well served by Fabrice Serafino's colourful set design with its five doors, each colour-coded inside to remind the audience which is which, and Natasha Chivers' brightly coloured lighting.

The six-strong cast each hold their own in performing their larger-than-life characters - some of whom might not be to everyone's taste, given the broad brushstrokes with which they are painted, but all of whom received many laughs from the crowd. Each cast member has great energy and commands attention throughout - although it seems perhaps a little unfair that the three hostesses had to each maintain a foreign accent, whilst the three French characters all got to use different English accents.

The colour-coded costumes for each air hostess are beautiful (I'm not sure whether or not they are authentic but they certainly looked the part) and really evoke the period of the play and the appeal of air travel. In farce, timing is crucial and the cast get the timings of their entrances, exits and killer lines spot on, particularly in the frenetic second act. The play makes for a light but enjoyable night out and time flies past even faster than a Boeing. (Come on, what's a review of a farce without a good groan-worthy moment?)

Boeing Boeing is at the Crucible, Sheffield until 7 June.

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