One Man Two Guvnors

 

Yet again, The Dilys Guite Players have produced a most excellent and hilarious production. This time with the well-known comedy of “One Man, Two Guvnors” by Richard Bean. It is set in the sixties and based on                                                     “The Servant of Two Masters” written in 1743 by Carlo Goldoni.

This was a well-directed play that moved with unbelievable speed - always needed to make any comedy a success. If there was ever such an elaborate plot to follow, then this beats the rest into first place                                                                         A very strong and confident cast excelled in their characters and the diction and clarity of their lines coped admirably with all the tongue-twisters.

Sam Oliver took on the very demanding role of the confident and assertive character Francis Henshall. Sam was outstanding with copious amounts of dialogue, eating as and when required, and generally throwing                                                           himself around the stage. His rapport with the audience was brilliant. Francis Henshall becomes separately employed by two men: Roscoe Crabbe, a small-time crook, and Stanley Stubbers, an upper-class geezer                                                          who is wanted by the police. Henshall tries to keep these two men from ever meeting.Unbeknown to Henshall, Roscoe is in fact his twin sister Rachel in disguise and posing as her own dead brother. Amy Gunn was excellent                                   with this double role and moved with ease from Roscoe, then to Rachel, who had come in search of her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers, who had killed her brother Roscoe. Jack Hewitt was brilliant as Stanley Stubbers with all the                             correct mannerisms to match the character.

As the play progresses, Henshall arranges for meals at a local pub to be served in separate rooms to his two employers, but things do not go to plan. Alfie, the waiter, makes an appearance and becomes part of the plot which keeps                          on building to a very confusing situation. Phil Ravencroft was just amazing in this role and he physically threw himself around the stage at the same time as delivering his lines.   Phil merits a special mention as the fight co-ordinator,                          not just for himself but for some of the other characters as well. It was very well choreographed. All the action takes place in the pub run by Charlie Clench’s pal, Lloyd Morrison, played with ease by Nigel Turner.

Meanwhile, things start to get even more complicated with Francis getting involved in matters that he doesn’t really understand, when Charlie (The Duck) Clench (a dodgy geezer) arranges for his not-so-bright daughter, Pauline                            (Petrina Wright), to marry Roscoe. However, she is already engaged to Alan Dingle, a very much “over the top” actor. Matthew Hutchinson was excellent as Charlie and Alan Dingle was superbly played by James Valentine who quoted                          lines from the likes of Shakespeare and threw himself into each role. Likewise, Petrina was wonderful as Pauline. Not forgetting Alan’s mother, Harriott Dingle, a very much upper-class and successful solicitor. Janice Sampson added                        the correct elegance and stand-offish manner perfect for the role. Also involved with this crowd is Dolly who was employed by Charlie to do everything. Lara Bundock played this role with perfection and her body language and attitude                          was spot-on for a girl of that era, as was the beehive hairstyle. Of course, after Francis meets Dolly he can’t help but fall in love with her and wants to take her away on an exotic holiday.Francis does his best to sort things out, but, as they say      , “what a tangled web we weave as when we first do deceive”.  However, there is a happy ending for everyone, and all is well.

Last, but by no mean least, what would Dilys Guite Players do without the ladies of the Brown Coat Team. Not only did they move the props around the stage, but also made appearances as characters in the play.                                          Congratulations, to Beth Marsden, - Karen (head waiter) and grumpy brown coat India Cottiss, (from the sound desk) and happy brown coat and Emerald Tofte. (head brown coat) Ladies, you were first-class.

A lot of thought and hard work has gone into making this an excellent production. Congratulations again to the cast, directors, production, technical team, and everyone involved. The minimalistic set and the costumes worked perfectly                        to match the year of 1963.  We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and like the rest of the audience were in fits of laughter - just what we needed on a very cold evening.                                                                                                                                       Thank you for the invite and hospitality and a most enjoyable evening.

 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.