An absolutely fantastic production of a hilarious play. I laughed until I ached. James Corden stars at what he is best at involving audience members and breaking the fourth wall. Other cast members put in amazing physical comedy performances. Would recommend this to anyone.
5 Reviews
Minding the guvnors
TheLittleSongbird27 March 2020
Saw 'One Man, Two Guvnors' as someone who sees every National Theatre Live production without fail (well certainly that is the intent) and who was intrigued by the story. Was not familiar with the play beforehand admittedly, one of the very few productions transmitted as part of this live cinema series where there was no prior familiarity with the source material. Am not a fan really of James Corden, but despite him still saw the production because of really liking to loving many of the performances transmitted.
'One Man, Two Guvnors' may not be one of my favourite productions of the National Theatre Live series. Other productions have moved me more, as well as having even more interesting stage direction and production values and even better acting from actors/actresses where there is very high respect or absolute love for. Prior familiarity can play a big part in it too though that has seldom marked my judgement, for example the source material for 'The Lehman Trilogy' was unkown to me but the production from last year was brilliant. That didn't stop 'One Man, Two Guvnors' from being so hugely entertaining, another production actually seen at the time of transmission but took time to get to review.
The production did lose a little steam towards the end, where the material wasn't as hilarious or inspired and the momentum not as tight.
However, there is so much to recommend with 'One Man, Two Guvnors'. Don't usually care for garishness and there are points in the production where the production values are that. It didn't strike me though as a bad thing, it suited the tone and atmosphere of the story very well and actually didn't look ugly. My perception of Nicholas Hytner has often been that he is an intelligent director with a good deal of interesting ideas, good attention to detail in character interaction and tries to treat the source material with respect and taste. But also not always having enough risk taking or spontaneity. One can see all those positive qualities, do love how the audience was involved, and while the production is not what one calls daring there are quite a few parts where there is spontaneity, like with everything to do with the obsession with food.
It, the production that is, is very funny and at its best hilarious, the dialogue really crackles, the jokes in the first half are on point and not overworked. Didn't think it went too over the top and nothing felt crude or juvenile. A lot of it gets very wild but not in a way that felt exhausting afterwards, giving me fond memories of going to our annual pantomime trips every Christmas. The story has a lot of energy and doesn't get confused despite the increasingly complicated scenario. The characters are engaging and move events forward without distracting from them.
What really surprised me about 'One Man, Two Guvnors' was Corden's performance. Have said already about not usually being a fan, but the production manages to get a performance out of them that is actually halfway amusing, in the best points hilarious, and also quite charming. All the cast are good and look as though they were really enjoying themselves. Daniel Rigby and Tom Edden, the latter having some of the most inspired moments, especially.
To conclude, great. 9/10
'One Man, Two Guvnors' may not be one of my favourite productions of the National Theatre Live series. Other productions have moved me more, as well as having even more interesting stage direction and production values and even better acting from actors/actresses where there is very high respect or absolute love for. Prior familiarity can play a big part in it too though that has seldom marked my judgement, for example the source material for 'The Lehman Trilogy' was unkown to me but the production from last year was brilliant. That didn't stop 'One Man, Two Guvnors' from being so hugely entertaining, another production actually seen at the time of transmission but took time to get to review.
The production did lose a little steam towards the end, where the material wasn't as hilarious or inspired and the momentum not as tight.
However, there is so much to recommend with 'One Man, Two Guvnors'. Don't usually care for garishness and there are points in the production where the production values are that. It didn't strike me though as a bad thing, it suited the tone and atmosphere of the story very well and actually didn't look ugly. My perception of Nicholas Hytner has often been that he is an intelligent director with a good deal of interesting ideas, good attention to detail in character interaction and tries to treat the source material with respect and taste. But also not always having enough risk taking or spontaneity. One can see all those positive qualities, do love how the audience was involved, and while the production is not what one calls daring there are quite a few parts where there is spontaneity, like with everything to do with the obsession with food.
It, the production that is, is very funny and at its best hilarious, the dialogue really crackles, the jokes in the first half are on point and not overworked. Didn't think it went too over the top and nothing felt crude or juvenile. A lot of it gets very wild but not in a way that felt exhausting afterwards, giving me fond memories of going to our annual pantomime trips every Christmas. The story has a lot of energy and doesn't get confused despite the increasingly complicated scenario. The characters are engaging and move events forward without distracting from them.
What really surprised me about 'One Man, Two Guvnors' was Corden's performance. Have said already about not usually being a fan, but the production manages to get a performance out of them that is actually halfway amusing, in the best points hilarious, and also quite charming. All the cast are good and look as though they were really enjoying themselves. Daniel Rigby and Tom Edden, the latter having some of the most inspired moments, especially.
To conclude, great. 9/10
1st half great, 2nd half alright.
chunkylefunga3 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Started off well with a fantastic all round performance from Corden.
The interaction with the audience was great. When James asked did anyone have a sandwich, someone did have one and threw it at him! James ad libbed and gave it back as he said he was clearly joking about wanting one and that if he ate it, it would ruin the premise for the following scene :D
The guy who played the elderly waiter was just phenomenal. That man had comic genius level of physical comedy timing. I and the audience were roaring with laughter.
The food scene was just an absolute hoot.
2nd half was ok but it felt very tidy and clean rather than manic and unpredictable like the first half.
If they do make a buyable disc copy of this show it's defo worth a watch for the food scene alone.
The interaction with the audience was great. When James asked did anyone have a sandwich, someone did have one and threw it at him! James ad libbed and gave it back as he said he was clearly joking about wanting one and that if he ate it, it would ruin the premise for the following scene :D
The guy who played the elderly waiter was just phenomenal. That man had comic genius level of physical comedy timing. I and the audience were roaring with laughter.
The food scene was just an absolute hoot.
2nd half was ok but it felt very tidy and clean rather than manic and unpredictable like the first half.
If they do make a buyable disc copy of this show it's defo worth a watch for the food scene alone.
I hope they release a DVD of this
angelofvic23 October 2011
I was absolutely mad about this. Delightful -- a theatrical confection and amazing pastiche written by Richard Bean based on a famous Commedia Del Arte play. Set in 1963 in London and Brighton, it follows various ne'er-do-wells, some of them posh, some Cockney, some neither, in a complex and variegated plot which seems to re-invent itself around every corner. Some of the wittiest writing and acting I've experienced. And the star, wonderfully Cockney and wonderfully stocky James Corden, is hilarious. Fast-paced and surprising. The production has gotten rave reviews from all quarters.
The great thing about the live theatre is that you get to laugh along with the theatre audience -- which I did: often, long, and hard.
I really hope they put this on DVD -- or have an encore screening of it -- as I want to see it again, to enjoy the entertainment and hear some of those priceless lines again.
The great thing about the live theatre is that you get to laugh along with the theatre audience -- which I did: often, long, and hard.
I really hope they put this on DVD -- or have an encore screening of it -- as I want to see it again, to enjoy the entertainment and hear some of those priceless lines again.
Some may like this; I thought it was far from amusing.
schuhhorn25 June 2016
This is unquestionably the least funny "comedy" I have seen in a long time. Which is not to say that everyone will dislike it. Some of the acting was good. However, to get into this you probably have to be (a) English, preferably working class; (b) fully up on English slang; (c) thrilled by lewd jokes; d) a tad misogynistic.
I have enjoyed Goldoni's original play; I deplore what Bean has done with it. The humour, such as it is, is mostly of the lowest kind, complete with double-takes, winks and leers. The acting is correspondingly broad, making sure that everyone gets the "joke". The involvement of the audience is not itself off-putting, though I don't think it's anywhere near as amusing as some others evidently did, but it does slow the play down. I was bored and left before the end; others may enjoy this. Chaqu'un à son gout.
I have enjoyed Goldoni's original play; I deplore what Bean has done with it. The humour, such as it is, is mostly of the lowest kind, complete with double-takes, winks and leers. The acting is correspondingly broad, making sure that everyone gets the "joke". The involvement of the audience is not itself off-putting, though I don't think it's anywhere near as amusing as some others evidently did, but it does slow the play down. I was bored and left before the end; others may enjoy this. Chaqu'un à son gout.
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