(*Some spoilers*) Adapted from a 1743 Italian comedy by Goldoni, One Man, Two Guvnors relocates Servant of Two Masters to 1963 Brighton - Brighton Rock that is. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I was surprised.
There's a lot of confusion which creates on-going gags - one twin disguised as another (they're identical twins but different genders); a servant who can never get fed and schemes to get his next meal; some money to give to a guvnor but if you have two guvnors? (What could possibly go wrong?) Also thrown into the mix an unwanted potential arranged marriage with a gangster, and some Skiffle music to speed the action on, and set the mood.
Although smutty at times (and sometimes unnecessarily so), I guess that's 18th century comedy in 1963 for you; it was genuinely really funny. There was some great audience participation in literally moving a heavy trunk and in offering a sandwich to the starving servant. The 1963 setting really made it; the music (part end of the pier and part Skiffle band) really moved things along - it was very well integrated, used as music was in Girl From the North Country.
Embracing it's audience like a good-natured bear hug down the pub, James Corden and Oliver Chris spark off each other as starving servant and toff guvnor. Yet it also gives its female stars a chance to be genuinely funny too - a disguised female twin is something to behold. As is James Corden in a fez playing a large xylophone (which has a proper name - anyone?) High-energy until the end, there is a 1960's sing and dance off; all the complex strands and confusion resolved and a lot of laughs.
Catch it while you can, it's available for a few more days only...
Comments