Seats will be in their upright position, but doors will be opening and closing all night long when Boeing Boeing takes off inside the Eagle Eye Theatre starting on April 23.
The newest production from Squamish’s Between Shifts Theatre follows the exploits of a successful architect living in Paris trying to juggle three fiancées at the same time.
Everyone who saw Noises Off, BST’s last production, will notice a similar vibe – doors opening and closing and people being revealed or hidden depending on the situation. Director Mike Hewitt said it should be a lot of laughs for the audience.
“It’s pretty chaotic and it’s really non-stop comedy out there,” he said. “Every time you think it’s been figured out, something else happens.”
Hewitt said he saw the French farce a few years back and felt it was the perfect play to present after the success of Noises Off in November.
“I really enjoyed the physical comedy of it and I figured it would be a good show for Squamish – people love comedy here,” he said.
Auditions were held in early to mid November and Hewitt casted the show shortly thereafter. Scripts were delivered so the cast could become familiar with it during the holidays, and rehearsals began early in 2015. The group has been rehearsing three times a week since.
The cast includes Todd Weitzel as Bernard the architect, Rose Paxman as Gretchen the German fiancée, Sasha Law as Gloria the American fiancée, Brian Eckersley as Robert the friend, Kylie Milne as Gabriella the Italian fiancée and Kathryn Daniels as Berthe the housekeeper.
Hewitt said it’s a talented cast, and he pointed out he worked with Weitzel, Law and Daniels on The Glass Menagerie, which won several Theatre BC Mainstage awards last year.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the whole group,” he said. “Todd was also in Noises Off so he has one ‘door slammer’ comedy under his belt. Rehearsal is going great. Some of the mannerisms between the girls and guys are just so funny.”
He said it’s been challenging but fun to direct the play.
“The way I direct is very collaborative and with a show like this it’s important to have motivation with everything that’s happening,” he said. “The show is constantly moving and figuring out how to arrange everyone is a challenge. It’s also challenging for the actors because they have to know who’s coming, who’s going and where they’re going. You have to be on the ball in this show because if a door opens too early and there’s a reveal, the plot could go out the window.”
A half-price preview, which Hewitt describes as a glorified dress rehearsal, will take place April 22. The show on April 29 is also half price and the full show runs from April 23 to May 2 at the Eagle Eye Theatre. Advance tickets are available online at www.betweenshiftstheatre.com, at Billies Flower House and Pizzalicious in Downtown Squamish. They are also available at the door.
Hewitt said Squamish should get ready to chuckle.
“It’s really hysterical and you won’t be disappointed,” he said. “It literally is a non-stop mile high comedy and is go-go-go from the time the lights go down till they come up. Even if it’s raining, they can have some sunshine in their life by laughing for a few hours.”
