One Man, Two Guvnors at Theatre by the Lake is just the tonic we all need – brilliant product, amazing cast and the best fun night at the theatre, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth.
Set in Brighton in 1963, you walk into a great skiffle band performance as you take your seats before the comedy by Richard Bean even begins. It’s well worth taking your seat early to enjoy the concert.
And that’s just the start of the entertaining evening that had people on their feet, giving the cast a well-deserved standing ovation.
This comedy, based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni was first performed at the National Theatre in 2011 with James Corden in the lead role of Francis Henshall. Having watched the live streaming of this production in lockdown, I knew we were in for a fun night, however, this co-production between Theatre by the Lake, the Bolton Octagon Theatre and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres elevates this well-loved play.
If the producers of The Late Late Show are still looking for the replacement for James Corden, they should visit Keswick’s theatre this season and see Jordan Pearson. Pearson’s acting is superb, however, it is his natural interaction with the audience as he smashes through the fourth wall that highlights his theatrical talent. You feel at ease with him as he and his fellow actors perform some amazing slapstick and verbal manoeuvres that they make look so easy.
It is wonderful to see the return of Polly Lister to Theatre by the Lake as Dolly. She is another actor who has such charisma you can’t take your eyes off her as she performs.
This cast works so well together and they are all double-threats; first-class actors and also musicians in the band that sews the scenes together with invisible stitches.
Charlie ‘the duck’ Clench, played by Rodney Matthew, is the unscrupulous petty criminal who offers his daughter, Pauline played by Lauren Sturgess, as the bride in a marriage of conveniance to the gay gangster Crabbe. But when Crabbe is murdered by Stanley Stubbers played by Laurie Jamieson, the boyfriend of Crabbe’s ‘identical’ twin sister Rachel, played by Siobhan Athwal there’s a change of plan.
Before the blood has dried on the knife that killed her husband-to-be, Pauline falls in love with Alan Dangle, played by Qasim Mahmood, the son of Charlie’s lawyer, Harry Dangle played by Karl Seth.
Not to waste the money he has paid for the buffet for Rachel and Crabbe’s engagement party, Charlie holds the pre-wedding celebrations for Rachel and Alan, who is an aspiring actor.
When Francis Henshall, turns up to the party and introduces himself as Crabbe’s bodyguard, and his ‘guvnor’ follows him in, the comedy really begins. Like a Shakespearean comedy, people aren’t who they first appear to be but all comes right in the end.
The action moves to the Brighton pub that sells food, The Cricketers Arms with Charlie’s old prison pal Lloyd Boateng, played by Alexader Bean, the cook and landlord.
Javier Marzan’s performance as Alfie, the incompetent waiter at the Cricketers is brilliant. His physical comedy is timed to perfection.
And holding the band together throughout the production, Matthew Ganley as Gareth is a brilliant performer – and keeps the entertainment going throughout the show. Grant Olding’s songs add that extra sparkle to the performance.
Putting all this together, this production of One Man, Two Guvnors is one not to be missed.
This play is pure entertainment, with hilarious interactions with the audience. After an evening going to see One Man, Two Guvnors you feel like you’ve had a break away in Brighton – an escape from reality which we all need.
- One Man, Two Guvnors is at Theatre by the Lake until Saturday, 3 September.
- For more information and to book your tickets visit the Theatre by the Lake website theatrebythelake.com
