One Man, Two Guvnors marks James Corden's return to the stage, Adam Dolan talks about the people behind the anticipated new play.
One Man, Two Guvnors is Richard Bean's reinterpretation of Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters, but he's relocated the Italian comedy from 18th Century Venice to the not-so-sunny shores of 1960s Brighton. Starring TV funny-man James Corden and with Nicholas Hytner directing, this is likely to sell out sharpish.
Corden plays Francis Henshall, a minder for a lowly East End gangster. It turns out the gangster in question is actually a woman called Rachel posing as her own dead brother. To further complicate matters, Henshall takes a second job working for one Stanley Stubbers, who just so happens to be Rachel's boyfriend, and the man who killed her brother. With a convoluted plot in the hands of two theatre heavyweights (and James Corden), we've decided to take a look at the hot shots behind this much anticipated play.
Francis Henshall – James Corden
One Man, Two Guvnors marks the return to the stage for the TV funny-man after a four-year hiatus. Corden has been popular since his show Gavin & Stacey first appeared on television, but he's not prolific when it comes to theatre roles. From 2004-2007 he was one of the stars of Allan Bennett's The History Boys (in the UK and Broadway run) and in the same year he appeared in a production of Bertolt Brecht's short play A Respectable Wedding. Since then, he's been noticeably absent from the stage.
It's clear that Corden's comfortable in lighter comedic roles, but despite being a comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors deals with some pretty dark humour. Corden's playing a minder for an East End gangster and it'll be difficult for some to believe the amiable everyman as a hard-nosed, violent character. He's seldom played a character who hasn't been likeable, so maybe we'll see a different kind of minder. We're curious to see how he handles a darker role in a more macabre production – if he pulls it off, it will definitely add versatility to his CV.
Writer – Richard Bean
In his prolific career, Bean's plays so far suggest that anything he writes is going to be controversial, or at least provocative. His critically acclaimed The Big Fellah is about The Troubles in Ireland and draws comparisons to current-day issues of terrorism, nationalism and racism. One Man, Two Guvnors certainly sounds like lighter subject-matter (when compared to a production about IRA weapons dealers) and the original Italian play on which it's based is an outright comedy, but as it's coming to us via Bean we're predicting his trademark biting social commentary will shine through.
Director – Nicholas Hytner
The artistic director of the National Theatre is clearly a fan of Bean and Corden and this production marks a kind of reunion for the three. In 2009 Hytner directed a production of Bean's play English People Very Nice, and prior to that he directed Corden in the stage production and the cinematic adaptation of The History Boys. There's quite a history between the trio, and so far any collaboration has resulted in success. That being said, One Man, Two Guvnors is a bit of a roll of the dice for the NT – a split reception is almost inevitable, and Corden's playing a role pretty far out of his comfort-zone. But given their track-record we remain optimistic.
One Man, Two Guvnors runs at the National Theatre from May 17th to July 26th.
Click here for more Celebrity Events
Click here for more Theatre in London
Click here for more Things to do in London
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...