Move Over Mrs. Markham
Philip Markham is a straight-laced publisher of children’s books. He and his wife Joanna have planned to go out for the evening. Philip has reluctantly agreed to allow his womanizing partner, Henry Lodge, to use his empty apartment for an illicit ‘rendezvous’ with a certain Miss Wilkinson. Meanwhile, Henry’s wife, Linda Lodge, has made a similar arrangement with Philip’s wife. Linda is planning a ‘meeting’ with a Walter Pangbourne – same night, same place.
Add to all of this the very artsy Alistair Spenlow, who is redesigning the Markham’s apartment. He is the third person planning to use the same apartment at the same time for a secret assignation with the beautiful Swiss maid, Sylvie Hauser.
Furthermore, a misplaced letter leads Philip to believe that his innocent wife is having an affair, arousing his suspicions and jealousy. Confusion, mayhem and sexual innuendo abound. Into this madness enters Olive Harriet Smythe, an eccentric and very successful children’s book author, looking for a new publisher. She has come to Philip’s firm because she hears they ‘don’t go in for sex’, unlike her previous publisher.
Philip and Henry can’t afford to lose this profitable new client and, to rescue the situation, everyone is forced to assume someone else’s identity and to desperately hide any hint of sexual impropriety.
All roles will require excellent comedic timing – both dialogue and action.
English accents are NOT required.
JOANNA MARKHAM (Lead, age 20-50): Sophisticated and attractive. Married to Philip Markham.
LINDA LODGE (Lead, age 25-55): Vivacious, but slightly scatter-brained. Married to Henry Lodge.
SYLVIE HAUSER (Support, age 18-35): A gorgeous Swiss maid. She appears in a short nightie at one stage.
MISS WILKINSON (Support, age 18-40): Very pretty, kooky, with large horn-rimmed glasses. Quick to strip down to her underwear, and then runs around wrapped only in a sheet.
OLIVE HARRIET SMYTHE (Support, age 30-80): A very successful author of children’s books. An eccentric, dog-loving, imposing, no-sex-please lady with a somewhat butterfly mind.
PHILIP MARKHAM (Lead, age 20-50): A pleasant, studious man with a worried air which comes from years of being on the losing side of life. Married to Joanna.
HENRY LODGE (Lead, age 25-55): Successful, rakish, full of masculine confidence, a ‘man’s man’ as well as a ladies’ man.
ALASTAIR SPENLOW (Lead, age 20-50): London’s latest fashionable interior designer. A virile male lurks beneath his artsy exterior. Removes his trousers and stands in his colorful underpants at one stage.
WALTER PANGBOURNE (Support, age 30-60): A stiff, slightly vacuous businessman.