‘Boeing Boeing’ takes flight this weekend at the WPAC

The play “Boeing Boeing” will be taking flight this weekend at the Wilson Performing Arts Center.
This is the first play directed for the WPAC stage by Kristi Hardwick. The farce, set in the 1960s, centers on an American in Paris who thinks he can have it all and then some, by having three airline hostess fianceés and hiding them all from each other. Eventually, his visiting friend from America even gets in on the plot. However, things don’t quite work out as expected.  
While “Boeing Boeing” is Hardwick’s first time in the director’s chair, she’s been involved in productions with the WPAC for the past seven years, beginning with a role in “Steel Magnolias.” She said she took on the new off-stage role to have a new experience.
“I wanted to learn more. I didn’t go to school for this stuff, it was just a hobby. And it’s sticking around considering I’m involved in four shows a year for the past seven years, except when we were closed for COVID. If I wasn’t on stage, I was helping back stage,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick also serves on the Wilson’s Theatre Committee, which determines what shows the WPAC will do each year. Directing “Boeing Boeing,” was an opportunity for Hardwick to help fill a void.
“We’re always looking for more volunteers and people to learn. We’re willing to teach people, and we knew we needed more directors for the Wilson productions,” commented Hardwick. “Becca Jackson-York recently taught a directors master class that I took along with my mom to learn the ins and outs, and we also sat down for a day with Laura Laprell, who has been directing for years, and she said she was going to give us all the tips that she knew, that she wished she herself had known when she started directing.’
“Boeing Boeing” is the first play Hardwick is directing for the WPAC stage, and said the time period of the show was a big draw in leading her to choose to direct it.
“I loved the era and the retro feel about it. When I first heard of it and found out it was about a guy with three fianceés, I wasn’t sure about it. But after learning he spends the entire time freaking out because all three end up there at the same time and he’s trying to hide them from each other, that’s when I realized the show would be hilarious and I decided to choose it,” explained Hardwick. “It’s been fun learning all the ins and outs and finding our own voices in directing people, and I also told my cast that this was my first show.”
Another benefit to the choice was the fact that it has a smaller core cast, and one set.
“We don’t have to do a bunch of set changes, and there’s six people in the cast, and ironically, when I did “Steel Magnolias,” there were six actors and we also had a first-time director. I had an amazing experience with that cast and having that director, and so this spoke to me, because it was the same size of the cast,” explained Hardwick. “I even have two people in my cast that are pretty new to acting. One has never been in any shows before, and she’s my favorite character. The other has been in shows, but as an ensemble; she’s never had a speaking role before. It’s so amazing to see her character come to life every time she comes onstage.”
Having the experience being directed by others over the years, Hardwick said, has allowed her to be a director that can listen to her cast.
“They’re learning who they are. They’re making up in their heads their own back stories beyond what the script tells them, so I told them in advance if they felt their character should do something, or feel something, I want to know, because that’s how we’re going to get the best shows, by bringing all of our ideas together,” Hardwick said.
When it comes to directing another show, Hardwick said there are several things she’s learned from this experience that she’ll apply in the future.
“I think it’s important to communicate and be open with everyone. We usually start every rehearsal with a truth about the day, and it can be about anything. That’s helped us really bond together a lot faster. Getting that friendship and camaraderie is important, because then we know we can support and lean on each other,” stated Hardwick.
Hardwick said she and her mother will be co-directing the next show, “Always Patsy Cline,” along with Tim and Tera Marsden. Also, Hardwick said she’ll be open to do either a play or a musical as a solo endeavor in the future.
For first-time directors, Hardwick encouraged them to find a show that they connect with and bring it to the WPAC for consideration.
“We are totally open to people coming in and saying they want to try something. We want people to come in and learn and be more involved with everyone in the community,” Hardwick commented.
Joining Hardwick in first-time directorial duties is Ciara Schierkolk, who recently was on stage for the recnt production of “Jekyll and Hyde.” Like Hardwick, Schierkolk said she was also interested in dipping her toes in the water for directing.
“Don Torbett, who played Jekyll and Hyde in that show, said they were looking for a director for this show, and Kristi Hardwick and I were standing next to each other, and we both decided to try it at the same time,” explained Schierkolk. “I’m doing  another show that performs the same weekend, so that’s why I’m taking the back seat in the assistant director position, since I knew I couldn’t be here for the final rehearsal week.”
Schierkolk added having Hardwick as support has made the first time experience easier to handle.
“I think it helps Kristi and I both feel a little bit better that we’re not individually diving in head first. We’re wading in together, and if either of us isn’t sure about something, we can build each other up and work together in that aspect,” Schierkolk said. “I’ve been learning on the fly. I have a lot of experience on stage from the actor’s perspective, and I’ve been able to apply that and my acting instincts to the cast. Becca Jackson-York has helped me with some tutoring as well.”
Schierkolk praised the cast, most of which she’s worked with in the past, as well as Hardwick, and felt this has been a wonderful experience.
“They’ve done a lot of the hard work, and run with what we’ve told them, and have been there to run rehearsals and get them started each night,” Schierkolk said.
Now that she’s had the experience of working as an assistant director, Schierkolk said there would be a possibility she’ll solo direct in the future.
“There’s a possibility out there. I wouldn’t want to bite off more than I can chew, but I have enjoyed this side of things, and we’ll see where the future takes us,” Schierkolk stated.
“Boeing Boeing” takes off at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10- 11, and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12. Tickets for adults are $30 and $20 for students. Call 623-3183 to reserve tickets.