ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York
Richard Bean's award-winning One Man, Two Guvnors – a smash-hit in London and on Broadway – takes a classic Italian comedy by Goldoni and turns it into a riotous British farce full of slapstick, songs and laugh-out-loud one-liners.
Sacked from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall finds employment with small-time East End gangster Roscoe – who's actually Roscoe's twin sister Rachel in disguise. Roscoe has been killed by Rachel's boyfriend – upper-class twit Stanley. Ever-hungry Francis spots the opportunity for another meal ticket by taking on a second job working for Stanley. And, of course, neither Stanley nor Rachel are aware that they are both employing the same man as their inefficient minder. Confused? It doesn't matter. From start to finish it's a feast of visual and verbal humour.
Phil Grainger, creative director of York-based arts collective Gobbledigook, starred as Francis Henshall, the role created by James Cordon at the National Theatre in 2011. The production, which had audiences in stitches from start to finish, also saw Pick Me Up debuts by Mick Liversidge as hapless waiter Alfie, Nick Lewis as Charlie 'The Duck' Clench and James Potter as Stanley Stubbers.
May 11-15 2016
Written by
Richard Bean
based on The Servant of Two Masters by
Carlo Goldoni
Directed by
Robert Readman
Stage Manager
Sandie Tanner-~Smith
Props
Teresa Carr, Jane Carr
Lighting, Sound & FX
Adam Moore – Tech247
Francis Henshall
Phil Grainger
Stanley Stubbers
James Potter
Alfie
Mick Liversidge
Rachel Crabbe
Maya Bartley O'Dea
Dolly
Maya Tether
Charlie Clench
Nick Lewis
Pauline Clench
Holly Surtees-Smith
Alan Dangle
Sam Baxter
Gareth
Joe Hudson
Harry Dangle
Craig Kirby
The Craze
James Wood
Jake Adams
Adam Bonser
James McIlwraith