One Man, Two Guvnors
Set in Brighton in 1963, One Man, Two Guvnors, a play by Richard Bean, an English adaptation of Servant of Two Masters (Italian: Il servitore di due padroni), a 1743 Commedia dell’arte style comedy play by the Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni, was lived streamed by the National Theatre last week, part of their contribution to the coronavirus lockdown.
The play opens in the house of local gangster Charlie the Duck, a party in progress to celebrate the engagement of his daughter Pauline to another gangster, only he has been killed.
It then gets complicated.
A knock at the door, the minder of Roscoe Crabbe. But is he not dead, no he is outside in a car.
The opening scene is very reminiscent of Only Fools and Horses, I had to check not the same scriptwriters, with a hint of a Brian Rix farce.
Members of the audience are dragged on stage to participate.
Very very funny. I could not stop laughing.
Live streamed last week, then on youtube for a week. A few days left.
One Man, Two Guvnors toured in the UK and then opened in the West End in November 2011, with a subsequent Broadway opening in April 2012. The second tour was launched six months later, playing the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
First of a series of live streamed plays from the National Theatre. Next will be Jane Ayre. To follow, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night. More may be added.
Live streaming has only been possible thanks to the cast agreeing to forgo their royalties.
