One Man, Two Guvnors
by Richard Bean

Name: One Man, Two Guvnors
Brand: Richard Bean
SKU: 9780822228981
Rating: 3.98 (582 reviews)

BroadwayWest EndOff-West End

One Man, Two Guvnors Book Cover — One Man, Two Guvnors Cover

Highlights

Large Cast

Female

Male

120 mins1960sEnsemble CastUnit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod CostumesBritish Adaptation Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Evening Standard AwardOlivier AwardTony Award

Winner! 2021 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play Nominee: Six 2012 Tony Awards Nominee: 2012 Olivier Award for Best New Play Winner! 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Play

What readers are saying

Readers find the play to be a hilarious adaptation that effectively merges slapstick humor with clever writing. Many appreciate the fast-paced comedic timing and the overall energy it brings to the stage. There is a consensus that it thrives through live performances, with characters and interactions that resonate well with the audience.

Hilarious and fast-pacedBrilliant adaptationFantastic physical comedySome jokes feel antiquated

Synopsis

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from his fiancee's dad.

But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who's been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

Holed up at The Cricketers' Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be re-united with Rachel.

To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart.

Simple.

Based on Carlo Goldoni's classic Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters, in this new English version by prize winning playwright Richard Bean, sex, food and money are high on the agenda.

Press Reviews

"A triumph of visual and verbal comedy."
— The Guardian

"Few theatergoing experiences are as joyously liberating as being part of a packed house roaring with laughter at low comedy."
— Hollywood Reporter

"Dazzling and delirious staging, which establishes the ingeniously absurd setups and then accelerates them, shifting into higher and higher comic gear...management should be required to install restraints for the seats, as you’re likely to be falling out of yours from laughing so hard."
— NY Review

"The funniest show in the western world."
— Daily Mail

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Stanley Stubbers Mid-20s. Home counties, privately educated. (Florindo Aretusi; 2nd Master.)	—	20s	Mid-20s. Home counties, privately educated. (Florindo Aretusi; 2nd Master.)
Rachel Crabbe Mid-20s. London. (Beatrice Rasponi; 1st Master.)	—	20s	Mid-20s. London. (Beatrice Rasponi; 1st Master.)
Harry Dangle 60s. Crooked solicitor. Rottingdean/tries to be posh Brighton. (Lombardi.) Partner in Dangle, Berry and Bush Solicitors.	—	60s	60s. Crooked solicitor. Rottingdean/tries to be posh Brighton. (Lombardi.) Partner in Dangle, Berry and Bush Solicitors.
Charlie “The Duck” Clench 50s. Brighton based but originally London. (Pantalone.)	—	50s	50s. Brighton based but originally London. (Pantalone.)
Lloyd Boateng Friend to Clench. 50s. Ex-London/Jamaican. (Brighella.)	—	50s	Friend to Clench. 50s. Ex-London/Jamaican. (Brighella.)
Pauline Clench His daughter. Brighton. (Clarice.)	female	—	His daughter. Brighton. (Clarice.)
Alan The son of Dangle. (Silvio.)	—	—	The son of Dangle. (Silvio.)
Dolly An employee of Clench. 30s. Brighton. (Smeraldina.)	—	30s	An employee of Clench. 30s. Brighton. (Smeraldina.)
Waiters/Porters As required.	—	—	As required.
Francis Essex boy. (Truffaldino.)	—	—	Essex boy. (Truffaldino.)