Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam to Star in Boeing-Boeing in London

Boeing-Boeing is flying back to London. The French 1960s boulevard comedy will open at the Comedy Theatre on February 15 following previews from February 3 with a cast led by Roger Allam and Frances de la Tour, under the direction of Matthew Warchus.

Best known for a 1965 film version that starred Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis, the play centers on a philandering Parisian playboy called Bernard who has devised a sophisticated timetable to organize his simultaneous affairs with French, German and American air hostesses. The three women work for different airlines and spend the night at his apartment whenever they stop over. Each believes she is the only one, but the subterfuge is threatened when there's a change of flight schedule for one of the girlfriends and the arrival of an old friend who wants to stay at the apartment for a day or two.

Written in 1961 by Marc Camoletti, Boeing-Boeing was adapted and translated into a West End hit by the late playwright Beverley Cross. Camoletti's other plays include Happy Birthday also adapted by Cross for the West End, where it ran in 1979 and Don't Dress for Dinner adapted by Robin Hawdon in a version produced in the West End in 1991.

"Boeing-Boeing really is very funny, and I think we're at a point now where we can stage plays from an era that was politically incorrect, so long as we're knowing about it," producer Sonia Friedman told Variety. "And remember, the women in the play are not being exploited: They're enjoying themselves tremendously."

Allam was most recently seen in the West End in February when he recreated his acclaimed Edinburgh Festival appearance in David Harrower's Blackbird at the Albery Theatre. He won the Olivier Award for his roles in Money and Privates on Parade and was nominated for his role in City of Angels. Other recent stage appearances include starring in the Old Vic's production of Aladdin.

De la Tour returns to the London stage after recreating her National Theatre performance in Alan Bennett's The History Boys on Broadway, for which she won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She also played the role of Mrs. Lintott in the recent film version. She has played leading roles for both the National and RSC including Cleopatra to Alan Bates' Antony in 1999, and on television is best known for her role as Ruth Jones in the long-running series Rising Damp.

Director Warchus is lining up a busy 2007. He will also direct Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests at the Old Vic and will bring his Toronto production of The Lord of the Rings to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in May.