One of latest productions to grace the Stanley Theatre stage is the hilarious, One Man, Two Guvnors, a side-splitting English update of the Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters. Set in 1963 Brighton, this marvelously crafted show abounds with a unique blend of satire, songs, slapstick, and sparkling wit that will make you feel splendidly silly. Meet a parade of colourful characters and see our hapless hero, Francis Henshall (Andrew McNee), juggle two jobs and two bosses when he has only one thing on the brain: fish and chips!
Francis Henshall (Andrew McNee) was a standout in this production that reminded me of Kramer from the Seinfeld show with his slapstick sort of comedy that drew laugh after laugh from the audience. Allan Dangle (Ryan Beil) presents himself on stage in a character that is dry yet so funny, that it just ads to more. A band graced the stage 15 minutes prior to the show start, I had thought it was an opening band, yet this group was part of the show, got the audience going and in the mood, then these fine musicians as you will discover are also part of the cast of actors, led by the immensely talented Anton Lipovetsky.
Richard Bean is an award-winning English playwright. Bean has written 20 plays, including Honeymoon Suite (2002), Under the Whaleback (2003), Harvest (2005), The Heretic (2011), and One Man, Two Guvnors (2011), his most celebrated work to date. With One Man, Two Guvnors, Bean won the admiration of popular audiences as well as critics. The play was named 2011’s Best New Play at both the Evening Standard Awards and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards in London.
Starring Mathew Baker, Ryan Beil, Lauren Bowler, Andrew Cownden, Martin Happer, Anton Lipovetsky, Gerry Mackay, Andrew McNee, Scott Perrie, Tom Pickett, Spencer Schoening, Cailin Stadnyk, Celine Stubel, Andrew Wheeler Director David Mackay Musical Director Anton Lipovetsky Costume Designer Nancy Bryant Set Designer Amir Ofek Lighting Designer Robert Sondergaard Sound Designer Murray Price Stage Manager Angela Beaulieu Assistant Stage Manager Peter Jotkus Apprentice Stage Manager Sandra Drag Assistant to the Director Cory Haas.
An Arts Club Theatre Company production: One Man, Two Guvnors at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville St., at 12thAve) plays until February 22, 2015 . Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Wednesday–Saturday at 8 pm, and Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets from $29, inclusive of taxes and fees. Call the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644 or visit www.artsclub.com.
Photos by: Emily Cooper