Overview
Synopsis
One Man, Two Guvnors is a fast-paced, hilarious farce that follows the mixed fortunes of Francis Henshall. Down on his luck and permanently hungry, Francis suddenly finds himself employed by two bosses. His first guvnor is Roscoe Crabbe, a revered London gangster who has, apparently, come to Brighton to claim money owed to him by his fiancee’s father, Charlie Clench. However it soon becomes clear that Roscoe is, in fact, his twin sister Rachel Crabbe in disguise. Roscoe was killed by Rachel’s boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers, and she wants the money to flee the country with Stanley. Unfortunately for Francis, his second boss is Stanley, who does not know that Rachel is in Brighton. Stanley is hiding from the police, waiting to be reunited with Rachel. To prevent discovery and earn money from both guvnors, Francis must keep Rachel and Stanley apart. To aid him in his quest, Francis enlists help from the audience and frequently brings unsuspecting audience members up on to the stage to do his job for him. Meanwhile, Roscoe’s fiancee and Charlie’s daughter, Pauline Clench, must keep Rachel’s disguise a secret, risking her own future happiness with wannabe thespian, Alan Dangle. As Francis’s world plunges into further mayhem and confusion, his attempts to woo Dolly, Charlie’s bookkeeper, go awry and he must prove to her that he is a good, honest man. Believing Stanley to be dead, Rachel finally ditches her disguise but she is soon reunited with her lover. Normality is restored as Francis plans to take Dolly on holiday to Majorca, Pauline and Alan are reunited, and Rachel and Stanley decide to marry and turn themselves in to the police. One Man, Two Guvnors is a rollicking farce, which often breaks the fourth wall, as Francis enlists the aid of willing and unwilling audience members in his quest to serve two masters and finally get a good meal.
Show Information
- Book
- Richard Bean
- Based On Book By
- Carlo Goldoni
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Il Servitore di Due Padroni (Servant of Two Masters) by Carlo Goldoni.
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2011
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- brighton, england, 1960s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- professional, tour, College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
One Man, Two Guvnors is adapted from the eighteenth-century Italian comedy, Il Servitore di Due Padroni (Servant of Two Masters) by Carlo Goldoni. Richard Bean remained faithful to the plot of the original commedia dell’arte play, with the lead female character disguised as her dead brother. However he updated the setting to Brighton, England in the 1960s. To this end, the modern adaptation includes a skiffle band, who are playing while the audience enters, and appear occasionally
to read the context for One Man, Two Guvnors and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The play opens inside the 1960’s Brighton home of retired gangster Charlie Clench. It is 1963 and Charlie and his associates--Harry Dangle, his solicitor; Lloyd, former ex-con pal and now pub owner; and Dolly, his bookkeeper--are gathered there to celebrate the engagement of Charlie’s daughter Pauline to Harry’s son, wannabe actor, Alan Dangle. Pauline and Alan are embarrassingly over the top in their affection for each other. When Lloyd questions Charlie privately about the pair,
to read the plot for One Man, Two Guvnors and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An actor that pretends to be an audience member, often participating in the dialogue or action of a show.
Speak or perform in public without previously preparing one's words.
A type of comedy that uses exaggeration, often with clowning and ridiculous behaviors, in order to entertain.
The imaginary wall between an audience and actors. To “break the fourth wall” means that actors acknowledge that the audience is there.
The act of inventing or executing action or dialogue in the moment without preparation, often with input and suggestions from audience members.
Slapstick is a style of physical comedy, often involving chases, silly and exaggerated movements and activities, and simple practical jokes. It can also represent violence in an over-the-top, comical guise.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher