One Man Two Guvnors

Based on Carlo Goldoni’s classic masterpiece ‘The Servant of Two Masters’, this new modern version was first staged in the West End in 2011 and transplants the action from 18th century Venice to 1960s Brighton, imagination needed here.

The Kingsley Community Centre was buzzing with local theatre goers all eagerly awaiting the highly anticipated production. It was obvious that this is a very popular society.

Director Dylan White’s programme introduction admitted that he has wanted to bring this outrageous farce to local theatre...so here it is. The Kingsley Players production of Richard Bean’s ‘One Man Two Guvnors' winner of 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards is a celebration of British comedy at its best, with slightly bawdy humour, catchy songs, slapstick and saucy one-liners. He hopes the audience get to feel some of the fun and enjoyment the cast had in producing this play.

I was delighted to hear 60s style music at the start, in the interval and during scene changes provided on the evening I attended by Arnold Ashbrook, James Stratton, Lynn Pegler, Jo Oultram, Carryn Hetherington and Sally Batty; The ‘Kingy Skifflers’ what a lovely surprise, we were all encouraged to sing along making it an even more enjoyable theatre experience.

Director Dylan White clearly knew what he wanted from this challenging comedy, with a great stage crew and talented cast it was an absolute joy.

It is not a run of the mill comedy, nor is it quite a farce, it takes us back to comedy basics with laugh out loud stupidity, it has been described as an adult pantomime. With full slapstick, one-liners and innuendos, 'One Man Two Guvnors' is very easy to watch and enjoy. The single set was perfect, creatively designed for the fast-running pacey scene changes. Well done, Kingsley Players Crew.

The story centres around the incompetent lovable rogue Francis Henshall (played by Dave Rogerson) the minder to local gangster Roscoe Crabbe, needing cash he unwittingly becomes minder to a privately educated upper-class criminal Stanley Stubbers. The second ‘guvnor’ of the plays plot. However, Roscoe is actually dead and being impersonated by his twin sister Rachel, who in turn is girlfriend to Stanley, her brother’s murderer!!  I hope you are paying attention. Rachel disguised as her dead brother visits Brighton to collect £6,000 owed to Roscoe from small time villain Charlie the Duck Clench whose daughter Pauline was to marry Roscoe, but she is now in love with wannabe actor Alan Dangle. Following this so far?  Chaos unfolds as you can imagine as Francis tries to keep his two ‘guvnors’ from meeting as neither boss is aware that the other is in Brighton.

Dave Rogerson is outstanding as Francis, continually ravenous he is reduced to eating an envelope, his timely comic interaction with the audience both visually and verbal is hilarious.  Francis enlists the aid of willing and unwilling audience members in his quest to serve two masters and finally get a good meal. Rarely off the stage he commands your attention throughout in this physically exhausting performance, with what is now a famous scene when a seven-course dinner is served simultaneously to both ‘guvnors’ is absolutely brilliant. A fine performance.

While Francis is central to the show, his on-stage love interest Dolly (Jen Deakin) gives full value to Francis's buxom Brighton belle with her quick-witted charm, and her dream of a Mediterranean holiday, a lovely performance.  There is a rich host of performances, Nuri Ucuncu as Stanley typifies a public-school arrogance. Richard Beech as a would-be actor personifies old school theatrical mannerisms. Kate Burge as the male attired Rachel has a wonderful macho swagger, and Simon Hetherington is a perfect choice as ‘Charlie the Duck Clench’ the old East End con turned family man, utterly believable performance. He is father to dim Pauline (Lisa Buckley) who was due to marry Roscoe, but is now engaged to Alan. Offering legal support to Charlie is Harry Dangle (Colin Smith) who happens to be Alan’s father. Veteran Kingsley Players actor Malcolm Barker has two lovely cameo performance as the taxi driver and the engaging policeman.

Charlie Gobbett brings a touch of comic genius to 80-plus waiter Alfie with hearing problems, the shakes and a pacemaker with a volume knob, his capacity to fall backwards down stairs and return like a rubber ball is quite extraordinary. Wonderful performance, well done. Lynn Pegler as Karen the waitress serving soup to 2 ‘guvnors’ is hysterical.  Jac Wardle gives a solid performance as Rachel's confidante Lloyd Boateng a man who is determined to make his name as a chef.

One man 2 Guvnors is a challenging show, subtle it isn’t, but it's very, very funny, it’s the combination of visual and verbal comedy that is irresistible. The Kingsley Players are a very talented community theatre society, on arrival Sue Elliott gave me a lovely welcome. Thank you for an evening of true theatrical entertainment it was a blast.,

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

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