PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN MARCUS

Kathryn Hahn kisses Mark Rylance in a scene from the sexy on-stage romp, ‘Boeing, Boeing.’

BY JOE CERVELLI

"Boeing Boeing" by Marci Camoletti is being revived at the newly refurbished Longacre Theater. As directed by Matthew Warchus, it is a frantically funny, madcap romp.

The play was unsuccessful when it opened back in 1965. I did not see it at that time, but I am guessing that it was played as a straight slapstick comedy.

Now Warchus has ingeniously staged it full throttle with exaggerated, stereotypical portrayals of the characters.

While the plot is predictable and even outdated, the absolutely brilliant performances make the show work effortlessly.

Here’s the setup. Bernard (Bradley Whitford), an American living in Paris, is juggling three relationships with air hostesses (as they were called back in the 1960s.)

The only way he can make sure that they don’t all converge at once at his stylish apartment (designed by Rob Howell) is by referring to the Official Airline Guide known as the OAG.

Of course, you easily can predict that, with the revolving bedroom doors, they will eventually all appear at the same time. And they do.

Whitford is vibrantly alive as the cool and collected playboy who suddenly falls to pieces as he realizes the women are all in his apartment.

The plot thickens when Whitford’s sad-sack friend, Robert (Mark Rylance), arrives from Wisconsin. Robert is stopping over before heading to Provence to visit family members.

How Robert becomes involved in the middle of this melee is what adds to the non-stop fun.

Rylance is an absolutely riotous joy as the milquetoast friend who becomes enamored of one of the more outrageous flight attendants. He communicates almost like a silent film star; every physical action is deliberate.

And he is quite amazing in the way he so easily transforms himself from a quiet man into a kind of love machine.

As for the three female leads, it is hard to imagine any actors being better. Kathryn Hahn is a delight as the TWA attendant. With the peppy mien of a cheerleader one moment and the brashness of a New York executive the next, she seems to be bouncing off the walls.

Gina Gershon gives her all portraying Gabriella, the passionate Alitalia hostess, with the allure and wild abandonment of Anita Ekberg in "La Dolce Vita."

It is hard to have a favorite, although mine would have to be Gretchen from Lufthansa. With her basso profundo voice and wildly emphatic stance, she resembles a storm trooper.

And, yes, she is the one the hapless Robert falls madly in love with.

Christine Baranski rounds out the women in the cast as the dour, forever-complaining French maid, Berthe.

It is always fun going to a play when Baranski is in it, and she does not disappoint here.

With Warchus in charge this is one of the funniest shows around. And don’t rush out before curtain call or you will miss the cast dancing to the samba. They may not be ready for "Dancing With the Stars," but they are delightful, nevertheless.