“One Man, Two Guvnors” is a comedy play penned by the British playwright Richard Bean, as reported by liverpool-trend.com. First staged in 2011, it’s a modern take on Carlo Goldoni’s classic comedy, “Servant of Two Masters”. The arrival of this production at the Liverpool Playhouse naturally delighted local audiences. But what makes the play so appealing, and what’s the verdict on its Liverpool outing?
The Plot and Its Background
The main character, Francis Henshall, attempts to juggle the demands of two different “guvnors” (bosses), unaware that one of them is actually a woman disguised as a man. The play’s humour relies heavily on misunderstandings and comical situations, which brings to mind the familiar structure of a sitcom. The comedy was a critical hit, garnered various theatre award nominations, and has certainly won over the Liverpool crowd.
It’s a rather tangled tale involving murder, mistaken identity, money, and, as noted, serving two masters. Right from the off, this plot is ripe with comic potential. People love a good clown, and we often find humour in the misfortune of others—a theme exploited here with plenty of painful tumbles and slapstick blows. It’s also worth highlighting that this modern adaptation shifts the action from 18th-century Venice to 1960s Brighton.
Francis Henshall has just been sacked from a skiffle band. Driven by hunger and a thirst for romance, he finds himself desperately trying to hold down two new jobs. But Francis doesn’t know that his first boss, the small-time crook Roscoe Crabbe, is actually Roscoe’s twin sister, Rachel Roscoe, who is posing as her dead brother, a man murdered by her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers.
To complicate matters further, Francis’s second guvnor is Stanley Stubbers himself, who’s on the run from the police and desperate to reunite with Rachel. All Francis needs to do is keep his two employers well and truly separate.
Physical Comedy at the Core
In this joint production by the Bolton Octagon, Theatre by the Lake, and the Everyman and Playhouse, Jordan Pearson makes his debut as the hapless Henshall, clad in a ridiculous chequered suit. Motivated by a need for food and a bit of lust, he constantly lands himself in unenviable predicaments. He gets beaten up, takes a tumble, and generally gurns his way through the action. It all has the feel of classic circus slapstick, but brilliantly woven into the fabric of a stage play.
However, Henshall isn’t the only Harlequin on stage. The famous Spanish comedian Javier Marzan, playing the 80-year-old waiter Alfie, performs a series of genuinely perilous stunts that induce gut-busting laughter.
Credit must also go to John Nicholson, Marzan’s colleague from the brilliant Peepolykus theatre company, who is the show’s director of physical comedy.
To clarify, “physical comedy” is a genre where humour is generated through physical actions, gestures, facial expressions, exaggerated movements, and pantomime. It relies on slapstick, unexpected falls, tumbles, grimaces, and other comical elements that elicit laughter without depending on verbal wit. Such comedies are often high-energy and demand that the actors be skilled in various physical tricks and expressive body language to amuse and entertain the audience.
Critics have generally agreed that the 11-strong ensemble cast did a superb job. But we also have to tip our hat to designer Colin Falconer, who created a vibrant, two-tiered set bathed in citrus hues.
A History of Triumphs
The play was a smash hit with both audiences and critics worldwide right from its debut at the National Theatre in 2011. The script, penned by Richard Bean, proved immensely engaging and collected a host of glowing reviews. The show quickly earned a reputation as one of the funniest on the planet.
As the events unfold in 1963, Beatlemania was in full swing. But preceding it is the show’s soundtrack, written by Grant Olding and expertly played by the actor-musicians, led by Matthew Ganley. They perform live skiffle music throughout the play, a genre wildly popular at the time.
One of the roles in the original Liverpool-set comedy was played by James Corden. Already a prominent actor, comedian, TV presenter, and producer, this play propelled him to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. Corden was even awarded an OBE for his performance as Best Actor in the show. The cast also features Siobhán Athwal as Rachel Crabbe and Kasim Mahmood as Alan Dangle.
The action might feel a little slow at the start, but once it moves from the Clench family’s living room to the pub, it quickly hits its stride. Particularly hilarious is a protracted scene where the characters attempt to serve two full-menu dinners simultaneously. Even the most serious audience members are guaranteed to be rolling in the aisles with laughter.
With its striking set design, vivid costumes, and music inspired by late 1950s skiffle and early ’60s rock ‘n’ roll, audiences can look forward to a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced show, bursting with top-tier comedic chaos. Tickets for the initial run at the Liverpool Playhouse ranged from £10 to £35.
