The Stage Club’s Singapore Premiere of One Man, Two Guvors

PUBLISHED May 24th, 2017 11:54 pm | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:01 pm

The Stage Club is proud to present the Singapore premiere of the smash-hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, British playwright Richard Bean’s English version of Goldoni’s classic comedy A Servant of Two Masters.

Set in 1963 in Brighton – a seaside town in England – sex, food and money are high on the agenda as two underworld gangs get ready to be united via marriage. But Rosco, one of a pair of twins, has just been killed. So Pauline (the daughter of gangster Charlie “the Duck” Clench) wants to marry Alan, a wannabe actor who is the son of Charlie’s lawyer, Harry Dangle. (Did I mention that the plot is complicated? So, pay attention!)

Then, Francis arrives. He has just been fired from his skiffle band and has become the new minder of the ‘deceased’ gangster. But it appears that Rosco isn’t dead after all.  The marriage can take place as planned, but Pauline and Alan aren’t happy. Francis returns to a local pub where a toff called Stanley offers him a second job. As the title of play suggests, Francis now has two ‘guvnors’ or bosses who must be served, but kept ignorant of the fact that Francis is moonlighting.

The original National Theatre production in London featured James Corden (now the host of CBS’ The Late, Late Show) as Francis before transferring to Broadway where it ran for several months to great acclaim. Now, directed by Nick Perry (The History Boys, The Real Thing, Out of Order, Black Comedy), The Stage Club’s version features a similarly explosive cast, live music, and hilarious audience participation.

We speak to Director Nick Perry and lead actor Paul McCrachan (Francis) about the play:

Hi Nick, why did the Stage Club and yourself choose One Man, Two Guvnors?

Nick: That is an easy question. It is such a funny play; it’s impossible not to be bowled over by its exuberant humour. On top of this it has an excellent pedigree, having been a huge hit for the National Theatre in London and again on Broadway. And I am proud to say that this is the Singapore Premiere.

Have you seen a production in London or on Broadway?

Nick: Yes, I was fortunate enough to catch the show in London, although James Corden had been replaced in the leading role by this stage.

How would you describe this play?

Nick: Wonderful entertainment. It crystallises everything that makes comedy such a great night out – a glorious celebration of life in all its crazily human absurdity. Full of outrageous slapstick, glittering one-liners, wonderful music and energetic performances. It’s based loosely on Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, but is much better than the original.

What are your challenges when directing this play?

Nick: Some of the staging is quite difficult given the constraints of the KC Arts Centre, but there was nothing that could not be overcome. The most important thing was getting the cast absolutely right and I was fortunate enough in this respect. Every one of them is perfect for their role and Paul McCrachan was born to play Francis.

What can the audience expect when they attend a performance of One Man, Two Guvnors (without giving too much away!)?

Nick: On top of the great comedy, two things give the play an extra twist. There is terrific live music throughout from a fabulous band. The play is set in 1963, probably the year pop music was born, so lots of great songs from that era. In addition to the music, there is scope for improvisation and audience participation. Each show will be a little bit different from the last.

You have directed many productions for the Stage Club and also acted in many productions – which role do you prefer – actor or director?

Nick: This depends on the play. Acting is more fun, liberating if you like, but you probably get a greater sense of achievement directing; you also get a considerable amount of stress.

So Paul, who do you play in this production?

Paul: I play the lead role Francis. Always hungry, always scheming (not very successfully) but with his heart in the right place.

What do you think of the play, “One Man, Two Guvnors”?

Paul: It is phenomenal. I was lucky enough to catch it at the National Theatre about two weeks after it opened. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I know Commedia dell’Arte and I had a rudimentary understanding of the original play. I laughed for two hours. The writing is strong, the casting was excellent and the physical comedy bowled me over.

Are there are any similarities between yourself and your character onstage?

Paul: I guess you could ask Nick, our director! I keep coming in with stories of things that have gone wrong or ridiculous scenarios I have gotten myself into. Nick thinks I am morphing into Francis. So that is a yes. I always have the best intentions but something usually happens along the way, which makes things go awry. Francis always gets there in the end, and so do I. Usually with a wonderful story to tell.

Have rehearsals been fun?

Paul: Rehearsals are great fun. That’s because Nick has grouped together an excellent cast. Everyone suits their roles and the enthusiasm and hard work is a testament to how much everyone wants the play to succeed. With it being a comedy there is always the point where the jokes stop being funny because we have seen them a thousand times. I think the energy has been stellar throughout. People are finding little changes which are keeping the jokes fresh and the support for each other never ends.

One Man, Two Guvnors is running at KC Arts Centre – Home of the SRT  from 24 to 27 May 2017. Tickets are priced from $37, available via SISTIC. For more details, check out the Facebook event page here.