Spend the night in 1970s Britain, where sex and comedy collide in the physical and funny play, "Move Over, Mrs. Markham," which premiers Oct. 8 at Cal State Fullerton's Young Theatre.

When Mr. Markham and his wife go out for the evening, their bedroom becomes a rendezvous spot for three couples.  Mr. Markham promised his London flat to his business partner, Mr. Loge, to entertain his latest flame, while Mrs. Markham promised the flat to Mrs. Loge for her to meet with her secret lover.  The confusion turns to comedy when the couples meet the Markham's interior designer and Au Pair, who have decided to test out the Markham's new round bed.

"It is clever, charming (and) naughty - without being crude. And it is both a comedy of manners and British sex farce," said director Eve Himmelheber, who is a professor in the Theater Dept.

Compared to the haunting "Sonnets for an Old Century," the psychological "Equus" and the passionate "Rent" that the Theater Dept. will show this semester, "Mover Over, Mrs. Markham" is straightforward humor.

"Our season this fall is predominantly drama, and I thought that being the ‘comic relief' would be a nice way to kick off the season," Himmelheber said. "(‘Mover Over, Mrs. Markham') is very accessible - not full of heavy implications on the meaning of life and humanity.  It is just intended to be a bit of fluff and fun."

Himmelheber said the play has an Austin Powers feel - something difficult for the design team to create due to the stage layout.  Young Theatre is a smaller venue, with the audience surrounding the stage on three sides.  A traditional stage would be set higher than the seats, but Young Theatre's stage is in close proximity to the seats, allowing the audience to feel immersed in the action of the play.  Himmelheber said the stage configuration was "tricky" for the set designers and the actors who have to cover more stage than in a typical performance.

The nine characters in "Move Over, Mrs. Markham" are played by undergraduate and graduate students from the Theater Dept.  Brooke Diane Flint plays Mrs. Joanna Markham and Ben Lambert plays her husband, Phillip Markham.  Jocelyn Pronovost will play Linda Loge and Vernon Taylor will play Henry Loge.  Andy Babinski, Quinn Sherman, Alex W. Rocha, Delilah Kujala and Kaylee Bouwens play various lovers, from Au Pair to the phone operator.

Himmelheber discourages bringing children to the play because of its sexual content.

"There is no visible nudity… just the suggestion of it," she said. "If ladies in negligees, gentlemen in underpants or sexual innuendos offends you, then this is probably not the show for you."

"Move Over, Mrs. Markham" will show at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. through October.  Tickets are $9 for students and $10 for general admission and at the door.  Tickets are available at the box office Monday through Friday and one hour before the performance.  For more information on "Move Over, Mrs. Markham," visit Arts.fullerton.edu.