Run for your Wife

Gordon Barr, Evening Chronicle

ONE man, two wives, a pair of coppers and a taxi.

That’s the premise for Ray Cooney’s farce, Run for your Wife, at the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth next week.

John Smith is a London cabbie with his own taxi, a wife in Streatham, a wife in Wimbledon and a knife-edge schedule!

By strict adherence to this schedule, he has been a successful, if tired, bigamist for three years. But one day, after gallantly intervening in a mugging, he is taken to hospital with mild concussion and complications ensue.

Aided by an unwilling Stanley, John tries bravely to cope with a succession of well- meaning but prying policemen, the press, two increasingly irate wives and a very gay neighbour, until he manfully confesses the truth – however, no one believes him!

Director Dave Richardson said: "I played the part of John when the Phoenix last did the play in 1997 and I made the press for all the wrong reasons. On the last night I fell during the second act, smashed my knee cap and ended up in traction!

"Let’s hope that does not happen this time."

Run for your Wife is at The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, from July 9 to 11.