Review: Boeing Boeing takes off at Warrandyte Theatre Company
by James Poyner
27th August 2026
Comedy returns to Warrandyte Theatre Company with their latest production, Boeing Boeing.
Be transported in time and place to the early 1960s and the chic Parisian apartment of playboy architect Bernard (Mason Frost).
Supported by his diligent French housemaid Berthe (Lisa Upson), Bernard wines, dines, and “enjoys” his three fiancées, Gloria (Frankie Photiadis), Gabriella (Rosa Loenardi), and Gretchen (Michelle Reeves), all living, and loving, in the same apartment and all oblivious to each other’s existence.
How is this possible you ask?
Well, our bachelor’s betrothed are all Air Hostesses, and through careful planning and furious note-taking, he manages to keep one up, one down, and one on standby.
But all is not well for Bernard and the dutiful Berthe, who would be stoic if only she weren’t French.
The jet age is here: air travel is becoming increasingly quick; the Boeing 707 will rewrite the air timetables, which should be a problem, but Bernard is in denial.
There is a mild misogyny about Bernard, which is very much of the time and should be considered (and expected) before taking your seat for this production.
Certainly, as Bernard begins to realise his world is unravelling and morphs from the confident ladies’ man into an emotional puddle on his living room floor, I felt little sympathy for his situation.
The glue in this story is Bernard’s lanky, nervous, and slightly awkward friend from Wisconsin, Robert (Cormac Duff).
Robert is our window into this world, there to witness the maddening tapestry Bernard has spun, and save his friend as his three worlds collide on a dark and stormy night in Paris.
Cormac Duff, new to the company and relatively new to Australia, is convincing as Robert flies us through concern, confusion, horror, lust, and elation – the full gamut of emotions.
Co-directors Tegan and Taryn first met while performing this very play in Toowoomba (Queensland) in 2015 – they said it holds a special place in their hearts, and I can see why.
Each member of the cast embraces their stereotype with gusto, Lisa Upson’s Berthe feels like she has been plucked out of ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Michelle Reeves’ performance as the bubbly, larger-than-life Gretchen needs to be seen.
The set design is top-tier, and the numerous doors leading to the multitude of other rooms in Bernard’s apartment provide some key moments of physical comedy.
Boeing Boeing is an entertaining distraction from the woes of the world.
This production has opted for table seating, so get a group together, but get in quick – at time of writing, there are less than 100 seats left across the whole run.
Opening night is Friday, August 28, with additional performances on August 29, 30 (matinee), September 4,5,6 (matinee), 11 and 12.
Book your tickets at: trybooking.com/DNKAB
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