Yahoo News Review: One Man, Two Guvnors at the New Vic
I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first time seeing One Man, Two Guvnors, but I really wasn’t expecting to laugh so much. Richard Bean’s classic slapstick comedy is the latest production at the New Vic Theatre and it doesn’t disappoint.
One Man, Two Guvnors is based on Carlo Goldini’s 1746 play The Servant of Two Masters and the conventions of commedia dell’arte. It swaps Venice for 1960s Brighton and centres on Francis Henshall (Michael Hugo), who finds himself sacked from his band and out of work.
Not for long though, as he soon finds himself two new, shady employers – but they can’t know about one another. And so begins the fast-paced, riotous action, combining a razor-sharp script with a masterclass in physical comedy.
Director Conrad Nelson (The Card, Brassed Off, Anna of the Five Towns) has done a wonderful job of adapting this well-known play to be performed ‘in the round’ and every detail has been carefully considered.
I’m a huge fan of greatly-talented Michael Hugo (Marvellous, Around the World in 80 Days, Alice in Wonderland and too many others to mention) and his performance as Francis is superb. He has charm, wit and comic timing in abundance and his physical comedy skills are spot on.
Nick Haverson has the audience in stitches as 86-year-old waiter Alfie, particularly during the climax of the first act where he and Francis try to serve dinner to the two bosses at the same time. I also loved New Vic first-timers Gareth Cooper as toff Stanley Stubbers and Thomas Cotran as wannabe thespian Alan Dangle – they really made me laugh.
There are too many stellar performances to list them all individually but suffice to say the casting is perfect and I can’t praise the actors highly enough – each one has to be at the top of their game to keep up with the twists and turns of the action and they all excel.
Live music is an integral part of the production, and musical director Rebekah Hughes transports the audience right back to the swinging sixties. The multi-talented actors also double up as the band to provide the foot-tapping soundtrack that had some spectators dancing in their seats.
As always at the New Vic, the staging and set design is ingenious. I always look forward to seeing how such a bare and seemingly limiting space is transformed to evoke whichever setting its latest production demands.
If you need cheering up, get yourself to the New Vic and see this thoroughly enjoyable play. One Man, Two Guvnors is a witty and hilarious romp that will leave you smiling from ear-to-ear.
One Man, Two Guvnors is at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle until 11 May 2024. For tickets click here or call the box office on 01782 717962.
