Theatre--Performance

Move Over, Mrs. Markham, by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, the latest Abbey Players production, opened on February 14. Performances will continue Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, February 20- March 28, with 2 PM Sunday matinees on March 1 and 22. Tickets can be reserved online at www.abbeyplayers.com .

This British bedroom farce, directed by Deborah Atchetee and Mickey Atchetee, moves at warp speed with scantily clad characters in compromising situations. (No need to worry- just suggestive!) They appear and disappear through various entrances and most change identities during the second act. Since you must be alert to get the full effect you may reprint this review and bring it with you to the theater. You may help anyone in the audience who may be befuddled without actually citing this handout.

Anyway, a publisher of children’s books, Phillip Markham (Scott Meddows) and his wife Joanna (Kayla Smith) are leaving their apartment empty when they go out for the evening. Remember, the rule of thumb in such a play is that “an empty apartment (ie. bed room) is the devil’s workshop”.

Phillip gives his business partner Henry Lodge (Jerrod Arabie) the apartment for the evening for an assignation with Mrs. Wilkinson (Kayla Martin), someone with whom he has flirted, but never met. However, independently Joanna has promised the apartment to Henry’s wife Linda (Beth Stephenson) for her tryst with Walter Pangborn (Milton Resweber). Uh! Oh! But wait a minute- the Markhams’ decorator Alistair Spenlow (Jaimie Allemand) plans to “work late” so that he can use the apartment to seduce the maid Sylvie (Samantha Royer). Remember also that such farces can violate a cardinal rule of physics. Several people can occupy the same space at the same time.

Then real catastrophe enters in the form of Olive Harriet Smythe (Gloria Breaux), the grand doyenne of children’s books, the J.K. Rowling of this play’s universe. She has fired her previous publisher for bad taste and wants to hire Philip and Henry.

What’s going to happen? Reserve a seat and see! I’m not telling.
---Robert D. Sidman, Ph.D.