L-R: Sybilla Budd, Helen Dallimore, Rachel Gordon and Shaun Micallef

This new production of the classic 60's French Farce has landed in Melbourne with an all star cast including Shaun Micallef (best known for his own program on ABC), Mitchell Butel (Dusty, Republic of Myopia), Sybilla Budd (Secret Life of Us), Rachel Gordon (Home and Away, Blue Heelers), Helen Dallimore (Glinda in Wicked on the West End) and Judi Farr (Best known for her role as Thelma in Kingswood Country).

The curtain raises on a scene not too unfamiliar, Bernard (Micallef), a middle-aged man enjoying breakfast with his attractive american flight-attendant fiancee, Gloria (Dallimore). We soon learn, however that Things are not always as they seem. Bernard is engaged to another two women, both also flight attendants on different airlines, so as not to have them all in the house at once. When Bernard's mousey old school chum Robert (Butel) arrives, a few complications occur and all three women are in Paris at the same time. What ensues is a fabulous hilarious farcical comedy of errors and slamming doors.

It is impossible to find a flaw in this stellar cast. Micallef is in fine comedic voice as Bernard. His wry humour is perfect for such a role, it hardly seems as though he's acting at all. It is an incredible skill for this to seem so natural. Mitchell Butel could almost be considered Australia's answer to Rowan Atkinson. Butel is absolutely hysterical in his slapstick moments. Judi Farr brings experience and a sharp wit to the character of the under-appreciated housemaid, Bertha, whilst the three international beauties are portrayed with incredible flair and... well, beauty by Helen Dallimore as Gloria, who is as ditzy and bubbly as her Glinda, Rachel Gordon as the smouldering italian Gabriella, who's purring Italian accent is somewhat remeniscent of that of Sofia Loren or Monica Bellucci and Sybilla Budd's Hitlerette, Gretchen, the German Lufthansa flight attendant. Sybilla is an absolute treat in this role, which seems taylor made for her.

Boeing Boeing is playing at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne for a strictly limited season and opens in Sydney on July 9 at the Theatre Royal.

Tags: Boeing Boeing, broadway revival, Mitchell Butel, Shaun Micallef, Sybilla Budd