One Man, Two Guvnors

Overview

It's received more five star reviews from the British press than you can shake a stick and has been performed at the West End, Broadway and around the world. Thankfully, all the hype is for a good reason; Auckland Arts Festival's headline show One Man Two Guvnors is bloody funny.

Based on the 18th century play The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni and modernised by playwright Richard Bean for The National Theatre, it brings together the best of British and European comedy traditions. It combines classic European Commedia dell'Arte with the dry, eccentric wit of British shows Faulty Towers and Monty Python.

The action takes place in Brighton in 1963. Central character Francis Henshall, played by Owain Arthur, is broke and hungry. As the play progresses he becomes more and more obsessed with food, a sandwich and a bit of female company is all this poor fellow desires. Driven by desperation, he takes on two jobs. His first guvnor won't pay till the end of the week but the second one offers a daily salary. Problem solved! Only thing he has to do now is make sure neither find out he's two timing them. This is, of course, easier said than done for Francis who is far from the sharpest tool in the shed. To complicate matters, he's not the only one with a secret and there's a generous helping of love and intrigue mixed in to the show.

Even still, the storyline's on the light side. But this allows for plenty of physical, dare I say it, slapstick comedy of the highest order. Arthur, in particular, is outstanding. His use of comedic timing and body language is spot on. For anyone who attended opening night, they'll know he's also adept at improv, just ask them about the 'hummus sandwich moment'. The challenge to keep the two guvnors apart is seriously put to the test in a restaurant scene which sees Arthur and the seemingly rubber-bodied geriatric waiter, played expertly by Mark Jackson, rushing around serving two very demanding customers.

The cast numbers seventeen in total and they are all brilliant. Arthur aside, my personal favourites are the struggling actor and hopeless romantic Allan Dangle played by Leon Williams and Edward Bennett who plays second guvnor Stanley Stubbers. He totally nails the public school boy who never grew up role. The extremely tight skiffle band The Craze kick off the show and help maintain the show's frentic pace during scene changes. Actors make cameo appearances as musicians, playing crazy horned instruments and washboards, among other contraptions.

This is a genuinely funny and seriously slick production. If you only see one thing at the Auckland Arts Festival, make it this play.