Bernard is a man with a plan, and that plan is to have three fiancés at once.
Marc Comoletti’s farce Boeing Boeing is the latest offering from the South Okanagan Amateur Players (SOAP Theatre).
Trevor Leigh plays Bernard, a playboy pilot who schedules his three fiancés like an airport timetable. The meticulous scoundrel has his nefarious life timed down to the minute, or so he thinks.
Leigh has enjoyed taking on the character, whom he calls a “rascal.”
“It’s really fun. It’s a very funny, funny play,” Leigh said. “He’s come up with this master plan to have three affairs and he thinks he’s got it all planned out, but of course it comes crashing down with great hilarity.”
Leigh has delved into a British accent for the part, something he has some practice at. Helping Leigh out is some old-timey terminology.
“Because it was a French play, this translation was a British one done back in the ‘60s. So it has that great sort of ‘60s flair. You can’t say ‘old man,’ and ‘darling’ all those British-isms without adding an accent and the sort of pomposity of the character is helpful if you have an accent. It’s sort of pumping you up, as it were,” Leigh said.
This is the third performance with SOAP Theatre for Leigh after he moved to Osoyoos from Alberta three years ago. A professional actor of 20 years, Leigh was looking to dabble in some performing in the Okanagan.
“I kind of thought I wasn’t going to do any more theatre or acting,” Leigh said.
After a suggestion from his parents to check out SOAP Theatre, he took on a role in their last performance of Noises Off in January.
“It’s so much fun I have a blast with these people, just great times. Now I’m suckered in. I’m on the board, this is my third show and directing one after that. I’ve really jumped in,” Leigh said.
Jen Jensen plays Janet, one of Bernard’s stewardess fiancés — each bringing a different nationality to the mix. Janet is the American, who flies in like clockwork to be with her so-called future husband.
In a way, the role is a fulfilment of a longtime dream of Jensen’s.
“I actually wanted to be a stewardess with WestJet, but it’s an eight-year wait list, so I get to be a stewardess in this,” Jensen laughed.
Boeing Boeing is her sixth performance as an actor with SOAP Theatre. She has also played other roles as producer and director, including a producer, and she is helping produce Boeing Boeing, as well.
Jensen said the comedy is a physical one, though not as physical as Noises Off, she notes. Boeing Boeing features grandiose characters entering and exiting at crucial moments, making timing key.
“You get to be a little bit larger than life and you get to really exaggerate some of the humour going on,” Jensen said. “I think the audience will be on the edge of their seat because of all the close calls. Like ‘oh my God she just went into the kitchen and she’s coming out of the bathroom.’”
Boeing Boeing comes to the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver, Oct. 27 to 29. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. each evening with a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 30. Tickets available online at www.venablestheatre.ca.
