Enjoy this farce thanks to The Mill
ONE of the world’s greatest farce writers is directing The Mill at Sonning’s new comedy, which opens tonight.
And he should know how to bring the all-star cast together: he co-wrote the play as well.
Move Over Mrs Markham is a hilarious farce that’s set in an elegant, recently renovated London flat belonging to the happily married Philip and Joanna Markham.
Philip, a straight-laced publisher of children’s books, has reluctantly agreed to let his business partner Henry Lodge borrow the apartment for an evening to entertain a new girlfriend.
At the same time, Joanna has allowed Linda Lodge to borrow the apartment so she can rendezvous with her lover.
What nobody knows is that the interior designer has also decided that this is the night he wants to try out the new oval bed – with the au pair.
And then, to complicate matters further, the Markhams’ evening out is cancelled, it’s too late to let any of the parties know and three sets of hopeful lovers all converge on the bedroom at the same time.
Can it get any worse? You bet: along comes a visit from
Olive Harriet Smythe, a dour and successful authoress.
The frantic efforts of the Markhams to hide the amorous goings-on and, at the same time, sign up Miss Smythe, lead to a hectic and hilarious evening where, as in all farces, chaos and confusion reign.
The Mill at Sonning is promising it will be a saucy, sparkling and riotously funny treat.
And the show also has a great cast including Jeffrey Holland – familiar to many for his role in HiDe-Hi, Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry and a swift return for Flinty Williams, who recently appeared in the Mill’s production of Perfect Wedding.
The show opens this evening and runs until June 2. As with all productions at The Mill, the ticket price of £55 includes a twocourse meal before the show. It is performed Tuesdays to Saturdays, with a matinee every Saturday and also on Sundays April 29, May 13 and 20.
For more details, call the box office on 0118 969 8000 or log on to millatsonning.com