OLT: Political Correctness Moves Over for the Fun of Farce
Move over Mrs Markham By Ray Cooney and John Chapman
Ottawa Little Theatre Directed by Venetia Lawless
The name of playwright Ray Cooney has been closely associated with farce since he first appeared in the famous Whitehall farces with Brian Rix in the 1950s and 60s. His familiarity with the genre encouraged him to present his own brand and one of his comedies, Run for Your Wife, ran for nine years in London’s West End, with some 17 of his other farces notching up long runs and many of them showing up regularly around the world, particularly in community theatres.
Farce enthusiasts delight in the combination of bawdiness, regular opportunities for misunderstanding, madcap activity, crazy sexual liaisons and various states of undress. With deceptively simple storylines and plenty of potential for relationship complications, British farce is a combination of carefully timed exits and entrances, leaping to erroneous conclusions and into bed — usually ending in one or another disaster and finally winding into a happy ending.
Move Over, Mrs. Markham by Ray Cooney and John Chapman premiered in 1969 and the views expressed and mocked are firmly locked into that timeframe. So, forget about any political correctness in this genre and style of humour that relies on stereotypes and exaggeration for many of its jokes. Fortunately, the Cooney brand also contains quick repartee and the occasional witty retort or pun.
As with most farces, the situation of Move Over, Mrs. Markham seems simple and twists into complicated. Joanna and Philip Markham, comfortable in an unexciting marriage, plan to be out for the evening. His partner, Henry, asks Philip for the use of his empty apartment for an assignation with his latest flame. Meanwhile, Henry’s wife, Linda, makes a similar request to Joanna to proceed with her revenge against Henry. In addition, the interior decorator, Alistair, arranges to use the supposedly empty apartment to continue his romance with the Markhams’ au pair, Sylvie. A further complication is that a famous children’s author is seeking a new publisher and has settled on the company that Philip and Henry run. Naturally, she arrives while the others are in the midst of trying to avoid each other.
The Ottawa Little Theatre production of Move Over, Mrs. Markham, directed by Venetia Lawless, is well paced and funny with considerable attention to detail. As the flamboyant interior designer, Alistair, Phillip Merriman delivers an outstanding and highly amusing characterization. His responses, marked by simple changes of stance or pitch of voice and fluid movement, draw the eye whenever he is on stage.
The reliable Janet Uren — well used to playing “strange old ladies” as she says in her program note — has fun with the character of the dog-loving moralist and famous author, Olive Harriet Smythe.
The remaining members of the cast are also clear about the demands of their characters and deliver straightforward and often lively performances, but some are not as practised in holding the balance between characterization and caricature. For example, as the sexy Sylvie, Joey McDougall employs no subtlety in her sashaying walk or coy smile. Meanwhile, as Philip, the straight man of the group, Guy Newsham too often takes refuge in shouting.
Tom Pidgeon’s bright set and Kyle Ahluwalia’s lighting provide effective backdrops for the increasingly frantic action and futile attempts at consummation, which were clearly enjoyed by the majority of the opening night audience.
Move Over, Mrs. Markham continues as Ottawa little Theatre to June 23.
Director………………………………………Venetia Lawless
Set…………………………………………….Tom Pidgeon
Lighting……………………………………….Kyle Ahluwalia
Sound………………………………………….Lindsay Wilson
Costumes………………………………………Peggy Campbell
Cast:
Joanna Markham………………………………Jenny Sheffield
Alistair Spenlow……………………………….Phillip Merriman
Sylvie Hauser…………………………………..Joey McDougall
Linda Lodge……………………………………Linda Webster
Philip Markham………………………………..Guy Newsham
Henry Lodge…………………………………..Dave Coleman
Walter Pangbourne…………………………….Sam Hanson
Miss Olive Harriet Smythe……………………..Janet Uren
Miss Wilkinson………………………………..Lindsay Boileau