"The best play I've ever seen."
-Megan Anderson
Mommy and Nerd Dad got to go out tonight. Grandma is in town from LaCrosse, WI and watched Ozzie, so we got a Groupon for The Butcher Block, an Italian restaurant in SE Minneapolis, and made a reservation for 5:30. Early, I know, but we wake up at 5:00am all week. We're a couple in our 30's who could pass for our 70's.
We dined there one other time last November with a Living Social deal, and Megan really liked it. I thought it was okay. Tonight Megan referred to herself as a foodie. I guess she is. Tonight she really liked it again, and I would call it not good, not bad. I ordered Chicken Parmesan that was served over mashed potatoes. I also ordered the deconstructed canolli for dessert, and I wish they would have called it what it really is: three baby scoops of paint-flavored ice cream with three waffle cone chips.
Earlier today we'd discussed going to a movie, but there are none in theaters that we want to see. My old friend Zach Curtis (whom you can read about here) stars in a play at the Theater Garage, that is getting excellent reviews, called Boeing Boeing. Tonight's show was sold out, but I know one of the people in the show. He told me to wait and see if he could do anything. It turned out that he could; he was able to scrounge up two seats for us, and we're grateful.
As a writer, I'm always procrastinating whatever I'm writing. My last evening of theater inspired me to start a stage play. I wrote furiously on it for about a week, getting through 20 pages, but then my inspiration dried up. Within 5 minutes of this show starting, it was back, and I look forward to picking that script up where I left off. Enough about that. I put this in here to hold myself accountable. Now I can't cock-off.
Boeing Boeing is hilarious. It's established right away that Bernardo (Sam Landman) lives in his flat in Paris with his New Yorker fiancé Gloria (Rachel Finch). Gloria is a flight attendant, and needs to catch her next plane, or go to work. On her way out the door, Bernardo's old friend Robert (Curtis) arrives, and they catch up for the 20 years, or 18 years and 9 months, that they haven't seen each other. Robert lives in Wisconsin and doesn't have much to say. Bernardo tells his friend about how Gloria is just one of his three fiancés that he juggles.
All of his harem are flight attendants, coming and going; sometimes daily. None of the fiancé's know about each other, and all think they are Bernardo's main squeeze. Bernardo's maid, Berthe (Mo Perry), knows about all three of the women, and covers Bernardo's tracks; even swapping out pictures of the girls as one leaves and another is on her way over. We meet his Italian fiancé Gabriella (Stacia Rice), and German fiancé Gretchen (Sara Richardson).
Today is the day that flights are cancelled, or returned due to weather, and all of the fiancé's are in town, dropping by to see their one and only Bernardo. He's fortunate that his friend Robert stopped by today so he can help with the deception of the women as they come and go. Bernardo takes one out to "the countryside," while Robert spins plates back at the flat trying to keep the other two from running into each other.
Director Craig Johnson nails the airplane-sized job of directing this cast of incredible actors, who pull off the timing (entrances and exits, along with comedic) impecably. Even if you don't find the show funny (which you'd have to be the biggest grouch in the world not to), you'll be impressed with how they pull it off. I wish I could call out one performance that stands out, but each cast member is funny, strong, and crucial to the story. I can't say enough good things about this show. It runs until April 4th. Get your tickets here.
A+
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