One Man Two Guvnors

In just a few words – full, fast, furious, funny and physical. I was hurting with laughter and needed the twenty-minute break to recover and was still laughing on my way home.

Based on an early Commedia dell’arte written in 1743 by Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni, which included slapstick, pantomime, exaggerated characters, misunderstandings creating chaos and working with an audience. Bean’s setting is in Brighton during the '60s. We come across characters of different class, a local gangster, disguised twin, murdered twin, daughter to be married off for financial gain, an iffy solicitor, sharp sexy bookkeeper, elderly accident-prone waiter, over dramatic wanabe actor, secret lovers – and posh public school chap. Confused? In addition a pantomime horse and other wonderful doubling-up characters and the extraordinary confusion created by lovable Francis Henshall, the protagonist. He commands the piece and talks directly to us the audience which involves some on stage, hilarious! He’s down on his luck, an out of work skiffle musician who just wants to eat and sees an opportunity causing huge problems when offered two positions, taking them both on and trying not to let each of the bosses know!!

Two doors, wrong rooms, and chases, inevitable slapstick, heavy trunks, a surprise revealing dropped towel and a great bath cap, misdelivered letters, fisticuffs and the most complicated multi-course meal with Francis attempting to serve his two masters at the same time! And of course, a happy conclusion for all, true identities revealed, futures secured and even a proper meal for Francis. The finale featured ‘Tomorrow Looks Good From Here’ by Grant Holding, the whole cast lifting the roof.

Timing is crucial for this style of performance with the logistics worked out wonderfully by Director David working together with his Assistant, new to the group Corbyn. With their guidance each performer kept up the momentum with such energy and must have had incredible fun perfecting this to happen.

Dee Harvey created the set design and with the team of builders and decorators we entered Charlie ‘The Duck’ Clench’s house's front room using dual sided columns with 60’s wall covering and hooking up a set on central curtains. The room decorated for an ‘arranged’ engagement party held for daughter Pauline, in love with Alan, often quoting ‘I don’t understand.’ Turning the triangular columns showed us the rows of houses typical of a Brighton street, and the circular backdrop depicted the sea, with the raised platform, rails and life buoys of the pier. Simple changes made way to create the Cricketers Arms, cricketing named rooms and a wonderful life size W.G. Grace where a sporting audience member hid with her soup tureen – perfect. The props team added the finishing touches which included a variety of food dishes. SM was Franck Hoedemaker aided by assistants Jane, Beth and Kelly efficiently moving during blackouts, a ‘whoops’ moment when turning a column it unhitched the curtain rail. Costumes, certainly of the era with Libby Grainger always coming up trumps with a little help from the cast too. I loved the Francis brown tweed look – slightly snug fit, trousers a little on the short side and the tank top with a tie – perfect. Rachel in her man’s suit disguise, Dolly, hair with a French pleat, tight top and pencil skirt and high heels gave her a swagger. Pauline wore full patterned frocks and hair band. Stanley Stubbers wore a crested blazer. Charlie looked particularly smart in pin striped suit, hair slicked, plus moustache. All characters including an elderly lady – disguised Director with headscarf and curlers, clutching her handbag and other multi characters all looked the business.

Rowan Ringrose as Francis Henshall was a star. His energy, his cockney cheek, speed, and physical movement was a joy to watch and listen to. All the talented cast became the most convincing of characters with interesting, well-maintained accents giving such contrast of backgrounds. Duncan Brown created a perfect gangster father, Laura Bateman played his emotional, not so bright daughter in love with Alan Dangle – the actor so dramatically and expressively played by Charlie Panther.  His father, Harry Dangle who got the Krays off – was Bill Allender. Friend of the family another dubious character late of Parkhurst, Lloyd, complete with Liverpudlian accent was Glenn Robertson. Vicky Whitaker with panache played the supporting role of Dolly, a sexy bookkeeper. Victoria Fay as Rachel Crabbe did a great job disguised part as her twin Roscoe using a deep voice and later into herself, madly in love with Stanley who is so smooth and plummy was played by Louie Byford. Rob Dyer having previously played the part of Alfie, elderly useless waiter, threw himself (literally) into this dithering and accident-prone part. Keith Robertsson was Gareth plus a Brighton bobby and a chef.

My congratulations to all involved and for the clarity of sound with interlude music of the era and good lighting.

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