One Man Two Guvnors

Is there no end to this company’s talents ranging from Shakespeare, Dickens, Agatha Christie to this fast-paced farce? I remember going to see James Corden in the hit production in London which doesn’t seem that long ago.

Written by Richard Bean, the plot is set in 1960s Brighton and is based on Carlo Goldoni’s Italian play Servant Of Two Masters. Francis Henshall is starving and desperate for money. To see him through he takes on jobs with two dodgy employers. What follows is a breathless, funny, dizzying romp that sees Henshall try everything in his power to get paid, all whilst keeping his two bosses away from each other.

The set was in two halves one side being the home of Charlie ‘The Duck’ Clench and his daughter Pauline and the other half ‘The Cricketers Arms’. The back of the stage became Brighton Pier in the second Act. Lighting matched where the action was taking place. 

Mike Stafford as Francis Henshall was excellent. He mastered the physical comedy and was able to adlib with the audience. As the play unfolds, we meet his two Guvnors played by Kim Joyce as Rachel but disguised as her twin brother Roscoe Crabbe and James Klech as Rachel’s fiancée Stanley Stubbers. They both played the roles well, with James getting a lot of laughs with his one-liners, good timings and expressions. Michael Sutherland who played Alan Dangle, had the job of acting the part of an OTT actor, easier said than done, he took to it very well, as did Nimueh Ferdinando playing Alan's fiancée Pauline Clench, her facial expressions and mannerisms were brilliant. I think the audience felt sympathy for poor old doddery waiter Alfie (Kate Marshall). The ‘Two Soups’ sketch with Julie Walters comes to mind! The rest of the cast performed well throughout, some taking on multi roles, with Cheryl Storer who played Dolly being a highlight, she had the character's personality just right and it came across well on stage.

The play includes some great audience participation moments where members of the audience, or as we believe, come up on stage, which really showcases how brilliant British humour is, with all the wonderful awkwardness and nervousness that a member of the audience on stage brings.

Director Chris Howland excelled with the visual comedy in this production. His talented cast and crew jelled together and looked as though they were having so much fun which permeated to the audience. That’s what theatre is all about – well done. 

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