Move Over Mrs Markham

Synopsis

Farce. Passions rise and trousers fall in this tale of murky goings-on in the worlds of publishing and interior design, set in a London flat. Husbands, wives and mistresses tumble out of beds and into wardrobes as more than just the termperature rises.

Our Review:

Anne Morley-Priestman - 1 August 2011

Something peculiarly innocent is created when the British write a French farce. Take the 1969 confection Move Over Mrs Markham by Ray Cooney and John Chapman. Two well-to-do married couples, a over-the-top interior designer, the obligatory nubile au pair, a brace of extra-marital dates and a jolly hockey-sticks writer of children’s books – all these in a penthouse flat on one summer evening.

Much hiding in cupboards, split-second opening and closing of communicating doors and an insistent telephone later, our married couples return to their senses, though with just a slight frisson added to their futures together. It relies on impeccable timing, straight faces throughout and the give-and-take of proper ensemble production. Richard Frost does it proud with a set by Maurice Rubens which makes the Southwold stage seem much bigger than it is and some judiciously selected costumes by Miri Birch.

As the title character, Joanna, Penelope Rawlins ...

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