MEM Players staging first play in five years
Excitement is mounting in anticipation of the MEM Players’ first performance in five years, 'Move Over Mrs Markham,' which will run on December 1, 2 and 3 in the Milltown Emper Community Centre.
Nine diligent and talented cast members have brought this hilarious two-act comedy by Ray Cooney and John Chapman to life, under the expert guidance of Paul Curley.
The last two months have been a whirlwind of scripts, line runs, props, paint brushes, and a delve into their legendary Pandora’s box of costumes and wigs.
The drama unfolds in London in the late 1950s, in an apartment over a high-end book publisher's shop.
From the outset, it is clear that nothing is as it initially appears, and many layers and secrets unfold over an afternoon. Audiences are promised an evening of belly laughs and entertainment in abundance.
The elegant top floor London apartment belongs to Philip and Joanna Markham. It has been under renovation, and thus has been largely empty.
Philip is a straight-laced publisher of children's books, and he shares an office with his partner Henry Lodge, on the ground floor.
Reluctantly, Philip agrees to let Henry borrow his apartment for the evening to "entertain" his latest girlfriend. At the same time, Joanna Markham is persuaded by Linda Lodge to let her borrow the apartment, so she can entertain her lover.
What nobody knows is that the interior designer who has been decorating the apartment for the last three months has decided that this is the night he and the au pair girl should try out the new bed!
When the three sets of people converge on the apartment, expecting to find it empty, chaos and confusion ensue.
The cast, in order of appearance: Joanna Markham – Cathy Dillon, Alistair Spenlow – Brendan (Tosh) Kiernan, Sylvie – Clare Ross, Linda Lodge – Vonnie O’Roarke, Philip Markham – Joe O’Hehir, Henry Lodge – Michael Molloy, Walter Pangbourne – Tommy Leavy, Olive Harriet Smythe – Catherine Tormey, Miss Wilkinson – Clare Moran.
MEM Players is a small rural dramatic group of 40 plus individuals from all across Milltown, Emper, Moyvore and surrounding communities.
They bring a mix of legendary and emerging talent both on and off the stage. The area has a long history of amateur dramatics and Move Over Mrs Markham promises to be one of their best ever shows.