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One Man, Two Guvnors

Fall 2024:

thumbnail poster image for the play, One Man, Two GuvnorsOne Man, Two Guvnors is a farcical comedy by Richard Bean, based on the classic Italian play The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni. The play follows the misadventures of Francis Henshall, a hapless and greedy man who finds himself working for two employers at the same time—one is a gangster named Roscoe, who is actually disguised as his sister Rachel’s dead brother, and the other is Stanley, a wealthy but dimwitted young man. As Francis juggles the two guvnors, he becomes entangled in a web of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and physical comedy.

The play is heavily influenced by The Servant of Two Masters, keeping the central concept of a single character serving two masters with conflicting interests. However, Bean’s adaptation sets the story in 1960s Brighton, adding modern humor and elements of slapstick, improvisation, and audience interaction to create a lively and engaging experience. The original play's themes of mistaken identities, deception, and social class remain central to the plot.

man on bended knee in front of a woman in a yello dress, two male characters watch from the background

two dishevled characters stand on a ledge

character holds a cricket bat threateningly while another character screams

Character in a business suit holds a knife to another character's throat while a woman in a yellow dress watches

businees suited character looks upwards while a taxi cab driver talks, one man waits on a bench

character in a business suit warily stands in front of a woman in a yellow dress who is standing in a fighting position with fists raised

the full cast and crew of One Man, Two Guvnors