Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
There are few better comedy genres than a good old British farce, and the Manama Theatre Company’s latest effort Move Over Mrs Markham will delight and satiate in equal measure.
This racy affair, charged with sexual tension, ambivalence and promiscuity all in one swoop, is punctuated by outstanding performances from the cast. This may be labelled an amateur production, but those months of dashing to rehearsals after work paid off as this was thoroughly professional in all but name.
Particularly delightful was Guy Parker as Philip Markham, who ranged from the relaxed publisher to a husband raging with jealousy and even an indignant butler in a performance covering the entire spectrum of the arts.
When Phillip agrees to loan his posh London apartment to his partner Henry for the evening so he can gallivant with his new floozy, his eponymous wife is persuaded to let Henry’s wife Linda have the apartment for the night to ‘entertain’ her own bit on the side, too.
Throw in interior designer Alistair, played by the wonderfully flamboyant and expressive Khaled Al Doseri, who wants to get some return on his investment and try out the new bed with the au pair Sylvie, the cancellation of the Markham’s evening out, a stuffed-down-the-settee love letter, and a prudish author come to sign a publishing deal, it’s a stage set for a wonderful evening of entertainment and belly laughs.
Kudos to director Mike Franklin for oiling this machine so well. With a small set, swathes of dialogue and numerous cues, it’s an outstanding effort to get everything coming together with perfect timing and no mishaps.
The show opened last night and runs until Friday. See it while you can!
– Kristian Harrison
