'MOVE OVER, MRS. MARKHAM' Playhouse adds time for laughs

The play bombed on Broadway but was successful locally in 1976.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bob Gray returns to The Youngstown Playhouse to direct "Move Over Mrs. Markham," a fast-paced comedy with mistaken identities, innuendo and naughty humor.
Gray, who recently left New York and moved back to his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., said Youngstown is his "other" home and he is happy to be here.
"Move Over, Mrs. Markham" was written in 1969 by British playwrights Ray Cooney and John Chapman.
"This play was a huge success in London in the '60s and '70s," said Gray. "But when it came to Broadway, it bombed. I directed it here at the Playhouse in 1976. We 'Americanized' it, changing London to New York. It was extremely well-received. We had a smashing cast, and our present cast is equally as funny."
The play is a typical bedroom farce, and takes place in the Markhams' apartment. They are a straight-laced couple but find themselves surrounded by people who plan illicit rendezvous -- all in the Markhams' apartment, and all on the same night! To top it off, Philip Markham, a publisher of children's books, is seeking a contract with Miss Smythe, a children's book writer, who also shows up in the apartment.
"[Miss Smythe] is upset with her last publisher when she discovered they also did porn," said Gray. Of course, she is against all the sex in the apartment, so the Markhams have to convince her that nothing is really going on -- and that's where the mistaken identities come in.
The monkey wrench
Paula Strobel of Youngstown, who plays Miss Smythe, sums the play up: "Three couples decide to sleep with each other, and I'm the monkey-wrench."
Philip's senior partner, Henry, is married to Linda but wants to see Miss Wilkinson, the telephone operator. Henry's wife, Linda, a friend of Joanna Markham, sets up a meeting with Walter, and the Markhams' live-in Swiss maid, Sylvie, wants to be with Alistair, New York's most fashionable interior designer, hired by Joanna to redo their apartment. And the Markhams are supposed to be at a publishers' dinner.
"Philip is a sad sack kind of guy," said Terry Shears, of Boardman, who plays that role. "He has been stomped on by life. He thinks his wife is having an affair with the interior decorator, because, after 15 years, he suspects the spice has gone out of their marriage. And his boss is using him so that he can run around."
Shears said they have to work to slow down this extremely fast-paced play so that people will have time to laugh and catch their breath. "The play lasts two hours, but we are allowing an extra half-hour, just to accommodate the laughs," Shears added.
Big oval bed
Those who saw Gray's production of "Moon Over Buffalo" last year will remember all those doors that people constantly entered, exited and slammed. "This play has six doors, but the biggest star will be the big oval bed, which the decorator has brought in against Philip's wishes. It is the scene of lots of activity."
Molly Galano of Boardman plays Joanna and describes her as "just a regular person, going along, living her life," who ends up calling people by different names, fixing up marriages and getting the book contract for her husband.
Gray and these cast members agree that the most difficult aspect of performing the play will be to keep a straight face. "This is one of the cleverest farces ever written," Gray said.