INTERVIEW: “Boeing-Boeing” Director Catherine Clyne and Producer George Loizides

The Hampton Theatre Company will present “Boeing-Boeing,” a play by Marc Camoletti translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans. It opens on March 13th and will run until March 30th at the Quogue Community Hall in Quogue. In an interview with Hampton Theatre Company legend and Director Catherine Clyne and Producer George Loizides, our talk covered the upcoming production and Hampton Theatre Company’s 40th season.

Renowned reviewer Marin Heinwitz reported that “Boeing-Boeing is a French sex farce in which a greedy, deceptive bachelor shamelessly dupes three clueless, sexy women into simultaneously being his fiancées, roping in his seemingly naive old friend and his bemused housekeeper to keep the charade going.”

Although this will be Director Catherine Clyne’s first time directing at HTC, she explained, “Well, I’ve been directing for about 30 years doing pretty much a variety of plays. I’ve done drama, farce, and straight-out comedy, and I also direct a one-minute play festival for my own theater company every year, where we ask for submissions, so I have a variety of experience (directing) for a long time… they asked me to submit some selections, and I’ve always enjoyed this play (Boeing-Boeing.) It’s very fast-paced and fun, and I feel like we all need some fun right now and some laughs. We had auditions, and I chose from the people who came down to audition.”

The final cast selections consist of Kevin Russo (Bernard) with Jill Linden (Berthe) and Jason Moreland (Robert.) Then there is Molly Brennan (Gabriella) and Samm Jenny (Gloria) with Emily Vaeth (Gretchen.) Caroline McCurdy will be the Rehearsal/Production Stage Manager.

Clyne was born in East Norwich and lives in Babylon Village. She is also an actor and has worked in publicity, set design, and light design. Clyne has a broad background in theater production on stage as well as off stage. She has known Producer George Loizides a number of years because she has worked with him for years with Bellport Playcrafters, a company in Bellport. Therefore, Mr. Loizides extended the directing invitation to Clyne.

About doing this 60s-era play set in Paris, Clyne said, “I think keeping very much true to that particular time period, which is the 60s, is important. The music, of course, is a reflection of that time period; the costumes and everything that comes together will be a reflection of that particular time period. The genre is of farce, … we’ll be delving into that …
I am just not a fan of the straight comedy plays out there. I don’t know why they just don’t appeal to me… I do like the off-beat kind of thing.”

“Boeing-Boeing” Producer George Loizides calls himself “a soldier” of the Hampton Theatre Company. Regarding choosing Clyne to direct, he said, “I have worked with her before. She had directed me in ‘The Rainmaker’ a few years ago, and I thought she was a really good director.” He added, “I had also seen several productions that she directed via Playcrafters and a couple of groups that she works with in Lindenhurst. I am excited about this production. When I first read it, I thought it was a good fit for HTC, and I mentioned it to the president of the group, Roger Moley. He read it and was very excited about it. So, he basically pitched it to the group, and it became a go.”

Loizides recalled, “A few years ago, we (HTC) did another play by Mark Camoletti, ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner.’ It was very funny with French lore, and this is the same, you know, with a crazy vein. About producing this play, he said, “I’m finding it fun and interesting and a little challenging. I decided to produce this because it was Cathy’s (Catherine Clyne) first venture into the Hampton Theatre Company, and I thought that would be a good way to sort of ease her in. So, we’ll see how that works.”

“Boeing-Boeing,” March 13th until March 30th at the Quogue Community Hall. Don’t miss it.