This is what goes on behind those doors in the frantic 50s airline farce

NEW Era Players next production is Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti and we go behind the doors at New Era Players with company member Sally Hall.

A frantically funny and fast-paced farce, Boeing-Boeing was last performed by the Wash Common-based amateur theatre group way back in 1969.

The action is set in the late 1950s and follows the exploits of American lothario Bernard, who has three fiancées, all stewardesses with different airlines.

He likes to think he has ‘one on the ground, one about to take off and one in the air’, but his bachelor bliss is about to come crashing down as faster jets bring changes to the schedules, upsetting his carefully managed love life.

This is a play that manages to take off from its 50s time zone and entertain you with timeless comedy.

This amateur production of Boeing-Boeing is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

New Era Players is a small, friendly and very successful theatre club that was established in 1978. It aims to produce plays that are a challenge to both company and audiences, as well as putting on more traditional productions.

“We have strong talent in all areas of theatre; directing, acting and the technical aspects. The great joy of having a small theatre of our own is that we can develop performances in the actual space – very exciting for all concerned.”

Boeing-Boeing runs from November 28-30 and December 3-7 (7.30pm) at the New Era Theatre, Andover Road, Wash Common.

Tickets £15 available online at ticketsource.co.uk/new-era-players.

Behind the doors at New Era Players with company member Sally Hall:

Staging an amateur dramatic production relies entirely on the time, skill and effort of a plethora of frontstage actors, less obvious backstage organisers and, even more invisibly, set designers and builders.

New Era Players are very lucky to have enthusiastic members that fall into each of these categories, and some who throw themselves into all of them.

Sometimes, as recently when we staged Love Letters, the set is minimal, consisting of a couple of chairs and tables, and it’s possible that the set builders breathe a collective sigh of relief.

However, this November/December, New Era have gone into overdrive and are putting on a farce, ‘Boeing-Boeing’, which inevitably involves many doors for the comedy to ensue, as hapless actors crash on and off stage from kitchens, bathrooms and especially bedrooms.

If you have enjoyed a production in the past up at New Era in Wash Common, you will know that it is a somewhat bijou space, with room for only 50 audience members, and a fittingly small stage.

Well, over the past couple of weeks, our set building team have installed some ingenious new walls and no fewer than five doors, which apparently lead to a kitchen, bathroom, hallway and a couple of bedrooms.

During a recent visit to the theatre, I found our technical director John Cordery up a ladder as usual, screwdriver in hand, muttering darkly that this was the most complicated set he could ever remember, and he has been there for the building of a great many over the years.

Not only is the set designing, building and painting time consuming, but there is the relentless scouring of local charity shops for period furniture to turn this into a bachelor pad from the late 50s; already, the stage is resplendent with modish orange mid-century chairs, a chrome and glass dining table and that must-have accessory: a retro globe drinks cabinet.

Of course, to complement the set, the large cast need to be kitted out in suitable retro fashions. Once again, we are lucky to have skilled seamstresses who are even now creating authentic-looking air hostess hats and uniforms, and a wardrobe mistress who will be combing the clothes rails in the loft, selecting our most fetching of 50s and early 60s garments.

Creating a production is certainly a team effort: we have the play selection; the publicity machine; the director; the furniture and props; the prompt; the set design and build; the costumes; the lights and sound; the front of house team. Oh yes, and then there are the actors…

If you would like to come and support this latest team effort, we would love to welcome you; if you would like to join in the fun with a future team, talk to anyone front of house when you come to the show.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.