Elena Roger, Doon Mackichan, Adrian Dunbar and Neil Stuke join the cast of hit comedy Boeing Boeing from 29 May, replacing original cast members Daisy Beaumont, Michelle Gomez, Roger Allam and Mark Rylance. The new cast members join recent arrivals Patricia Hodge and Amy Nuttall in the high-flying farce about Bernard, a man jugging multiple stewardess fiancées, who is thrown into turmoil when a new, faster plane is introduced and schedules are altered.
Argentinean actress Roger, who takes the role of Italian stewardess Gabriella, was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award earlier this year for her performance in the title role of Evita. Though new to the West End stage, in her home country she has performed in shows including Nine, Beauty And The Beast, Les Misérables and Saturday Night Fever, though Boeing Boeing is a bit of a departure from her usual musical fare.
Mackichan replaces fellow Green Wing star Gomez as German stewardess Gretchen. She is one of television comedy's most familiar faces, having appeared in series including Smack The Pony – which she co-wrote – Nighty Night and Knowing Me, Knowing You… With Alan Partridge. Mackichan's previous London stage credits include A Respectable Wedding (Young Vic), Mother Courage (National), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Almeida), plus Road and Sacred Heart (Royal Court).
Stuke, who plays Bernard's old school chum Robert, is also well known for his work on television comedy, having replaced Ben Chaplin in popular 90s comedy Game On. Among his stage credits are Blue/Orange (Duchess), The Bullet (Donmar Warehouse), American Buffalo (Young Vic) and Mojo (Royal Court).
Dunbar (Bernard), like Mackichan and Stuke, has previously worked at the Royal Court (King Lear, Saved, Pope's Wedding) and the Young Vic (Ghosts). His films include My Left Foot and The Crying Game.
Boeing Boeing, which is written by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverley Cross, opened at the Comedy in February. Following a warm reception by critics and public alike, and featuring London's most talked about curtain call, the production extended its run and is currently booking until 20 October. em>MA