Move over Mrs Markham

It's all part of the very confusing, very funny plot of a play called Move Over Mrs Markham being staged by the St Cross Drama Group in Winchester next week.

The Markhams, played by Alan Taylor and Anita Barrett, live in a flat above the publishing company they own. One night, when they are meant to be going out,

various friends, aquaintances and employees decide to "borrow" their flat for their intended clandestine liaisons.

One of the friend's lovers drops a love

letter which is later found by Mr Markham who assumes it's intended for his wife, who he thinks is having an affair with their decorator.

"It's a bedroom farce set in the late Sixties, early Seventies. It's very fast-paced, with lots of brilliant one-liners, double entendres and twists in the tale," says Anita.

"Mr Markham is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud. He is devoted to his wife, but their marriage has become a bit stale and he is convinced she is having an affair," she says.

"When he finds the love letter, he flies off the handle and, in a fit of rage, he stomps off to the decorator yelling 'you can have her'!"

While all this is happening, a visitor turns up. Miss Myers, a highly-moral author of children's books, has just left her last publishing company because she took offence at something they published, which she construed as pornographic. She's come to sign a contract with the Markham's company where she happens upon scenes of deception and intrigue.

"She's prim and proper and she sees all these people running around trying around trying to have affairs with each other and she's so disapproving of it all," says Anita. "It's a hilarious play and lots of fun to be in."

For tickets call 01962 869307.

NADINE BATEMAN