A couple of weeks ago, Simple Flying covered a selection of highly-regarded aviation-themed films. We thought it only proper to follow this up with a few well-known examples of theatrical productions related to the industry. Although we won’t be able to touch on every such staged play, as there are dozens, here are six of the most distinguished.
1 Lone Flyer - The Last Flight of Amy Johnson
Covering the life and times of the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia, this riveting drama not only tells of her aviation feats but also the challenges in her personal life. Theatrically, Lone Flyer is exciting for its use of time; viewers first meet the aviator in the final moments of her final flight in which she, unfortunately, perished, before different moments of her life are acted out as if it was flashing before her eyes.
It is an emotional story of life dilemmas and breaking boundaries, accompanied by compelling music, sound, and light effects.
2 Flight
Performed at the University of South Carolina in the United States, Flight is an original drama featuring the history and stories of multiple pioneering female aviators. Partially inspired by Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” the story is about two female actresses and aspiring aviators in the early 1900s, a time when being an actress was looked down upon, and female aviators were unheard of. As the university explains,
“Flight opens eyes and hearts to the long-forgotten stories of the courageous women for whom the sky was not the limit.”
3 Come From Away
One of the most infamous days in aviation undoubtedly was September 11th, 2001. In immediate response to the various attacks on US soil, the airspace was closed, and aircraft had to land as soon as possible; for flights that had left Europe hours earlier and were due to land soon but not yet in American airspace, options were limited. For many of those flights, a lesser-known airport in Newfoundland, Canada, Gander (YQX), was the best choice.
Fortunately, the airport could handle the aircraft traffic as it was previously used as a critical refueling stop. Still, facilities were lacking for the many thousands who were there for a few days. Come From Away tells the heartwarming tale of the Canadian citizens who took the strangers in, offering refreshments and a place to stay. And though the title has origins elsewhere, a documentary of the same story called Operation Yellow Ribbon is an option for those who aren’t theater fans.
4 Take Flight
As you may have been able to infer by the title, Take Flight is an emotional drama about the very beginning of flight. On stage are depictions of some of the most famous early aviators and their stories, such as the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Otto Lilienthal, Commander Richard Byrd, and more. Take Flight first premiered at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London before moving to other destinations worldwide.
5 Boeing-Boeing
This 1960s French comedy features Bernard, a bachelor living in an apartment in Paris who has three fiances, all flight attendants but from different countries who are unaware of each other. Unfortunately, for many reasons, one of which being the new fast Boeing jetliner, the three women found themselves in Paris simultaneously, despite Bernard’s careful planning. As you can imagine, he was now in a challenging situation.
6 Billy Bishop Goes to War
One of Canadian theater’s most notable stage plays, Billy Bishop Goes to War, is about the life of the famous flying ace from World War I.
This two-person drama has one actor playing William Avery Bishop, more commonly Billy Bishop, in dialogue and song, while the other provides accompanying music and some singing. It has toured across Canada and abroad to the United States (including Broadway) and Europe, with various productions from the 1970s through 2010s.
Have you seen any of these theater productions? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources: Your Mileage May Vary, The Guardian, University of South Carolina, Wikipedia (Take Flight, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Boeing-Boeing)