Sapulpa Community Theatre’s new show, “Boeing Boeing,” which opens next weekend, is best described as “nothing you’ve seen before;” the show itself might be a farcical comedy similar to what the theatre has shown in the past, but that’s about as familiar as it gets. The show, the cast, everything about this show is brand new.
Sapulpa Herald caught up with Caleb Vaughn, who is directing for the first time at 124 S. Water Street. Vaughn is only 25, but graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from ORU in Musical Theatre. He sits on the board of the nearby theatre startup called “Theatre West,” which just completed its first season.
Vaughn says he’s thrilled with the chance to direct at SCT. “I was actually in ‘Black Coffee’ back in 2020, but this is my first time back here at SCT since,” he said, adding that “the process has been fantastic.”
Although none of the cast has performed a show in Sapulpa prior to this one, Vaughn says they’re all “incredibly talented actors,” and almost all of them are ORU alums. “I’m thrilled that they are here doing this show with us,” Vaughn says. “We come to rehearsal every night and genuinely just play and have fun. I sit in rehearsal for two-and-a-half hours every night and just laugh. It’s the best!”
Despite his youth, Vaughn is no stranger to the stage, having done shows at Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, Muskogee Little Theatre, and now at Sapulpa Community Theatre. He says the opportunity to direct came up, and he jumped at the chance, even though he didn’t yet know which show he’d be directing. “In January, I got an email from [Play Selection Committee Chair] Debbie Pope, and she asked if I’d be interested in interviewing for this particular show. I had never heard of it, but I went home that evening, read it, and laughed the whole time,” he said. “I knew once I read it that I wanted to direct it, and here we are!”
“Boeing Boeing” is a farcical comedy originally written by French playwright Marc Camoletti. It was later translated into English by Beverly Cross and began playing at the Apollo Theatre in London in 1962. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most performed French play throughout the world.”
The story is set around a bachelor named Bernard, who lives in Paris and is engaged to three separate women, all airline stewardesses, none of whom know about the others. Bernard carefully orchestrates his schedule with each of his fiancées so that none of them ever meet each other, until a new, faster Boeing jet foils his plans. Before long, all his girlfriends are in the same city on the same day, and Bernard and his friend Robert have to try to keep them from finding out about each other.
The play is set in the 1960s, and Vaughn tried to bring that experience to the stage with the set design and the costumes of the actors. He says it’s the experience of the cast that really makes the difference. “When your actors have training, they take direction easily, they can trust themselves to try new things on stage, and they understand how to bring a vision to life,” he said. “This show in particular is fast-paced, high-energy, and super funny. You have to be on your A-game to pull it off!”
Despite being a French-to-English translation, Vaughn says the story is easy to understand. “Everything was translated very well. [The audience] just need to come prepared for some hilarious tomfoolery and come ready to laugh,” he said.
Ultimately, Vaughn knows the show is going to be a great experience because of the content and the experience, regardless of where it’s from. “This show is just a fun show. It is so light-hearted, there is nothing serious about it. I sit in rehearsal every night and smile until my face hurts because it’s so much fun to watch,” he says. “I’m so grateful to have been chosen, and I hope we put on a show that you guys will be proud of.”
“Boeing Boeing” opens on June 9th and runs for two weekends until June 19th. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling or texting 918-227-2169. More information can be found at sapulpatheatre.org.
