'Boeing' is a laugh riot

Mary McCormack as Gretchen, a Lufthansa flight attendant and Christine Baranski as Berthe, the housekeeper in "Boeing-Boeing", a farce about an English playboy in 1960's Paris. With the help of his housekeeper, he juggles the visiting schedules of his three flight attendant girlfriends. (Ari Mintz/Newsday)

By Matt Windman

11:13 AM EDT, May 5, 2008

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The 1960s French sex farce "Boeing-Boeing," considered by some to be extremely dated and sexist, has a very mixed history. But, like it or not, it is the funniest play on Broadway.

The original Broadway production folded after 23 performances in 1965. But according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the most performed French play throughout the world. There are no less than four film versions, ranging from a 1965 Hollywood flick with Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis to a 2005 Bollywood version.

Its comedy-of-errors plot follows an architect in Paris (Bradley Whitford of "The West Wing") who juggles three airline stewardess fiancés. He acts as a kind of air-traffic controller, carefully planning when the gals fly in and out of his swanky bachelor pad. As you'd expect, all three fiancés invade the place at once and all hell breaks loose.

In the tradition of extreme sports, this cast's superb ensemble work, which involves gleefully indulging in door slamming, makeout scenes and ridiculous foreign accents, should be deemed "extreme character acting." It is more than mere fun to watch -- it's downright intoxicating.

Christine Baranski, sporting thick glasses and an even thicker French accent, portrays the lead male's sarcastic, high-powered maid. Playing the three flight attendants are Kathryn Hahn (the American), Gina Gershon (the Italian) and Mary McCormack (the German).

But the real hero of "Boeing-Boeing" is Mark Rylance, who plays a socially awkward visitor who unknowingly gets mixed up in his pal's swinger lifestyle. Rylance, a renowned Shakespearian actor, creates silent slapstick comedy that perfectly compliments the play's madcap atmosphere.

While we are not defending the literary merits -- or lack thereof -- of this straight male fantasy play, Matthew Warchus' revival is extremely well staged, perfectly cast and insanely funny. As in "Noises Off," you'll find yourself deliriously laughing at each and every line for two and a half happy hours.

Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th St, 212-239-6200, $26.50-99.50. Tues 8pm, Wed 2 & 8pm, Thurs-Fri 8pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 3pm. Open run.