The play also featured cartoon like characters such as Stanley Stubbers (Oliver Chris), who played a clichéd ex public school boy. He is also uncreative due to the fact he gave himself the name of Dustin Pubsign. He also has bizarre vocal mannerisms like “yep yep yep”. His visual appearance was also funny, with iron marks on his shirt as well as an excessively hairy chest and back. There was also a scene where he jumped off a pier but returns soaking wet and then has a clichéd sexy reunion with Rachel. There was visual comedy in height difference between the two.
Another cartoon like character is Alfie the waiter (Tom Elden), who showed hugely physical comedy by playing an idiotic and senile 86 year old on his first day of serving in a restaurant. He wobbles plates, falls down the stairs backwards, gets a door slammed into him and is disrupted by his pacemaker.
The music and song of the play was also quite amusing and fun. There was a 4 man skiffle band, with a washboard, double bass, acoustic guitar and electric guitar that played before the play started. The band generally resembles the style of music during the 1963 era. They returned to the stage in between every scene change to support variety acts from the rest of the cast such as actor slapping his chest, Jamaicans playing steel drums, Stanley playing horns and James Corden playing on the xylophone. All of these set up an atmosphere of fun, energy and excitement for the audience, who reacted by cheering, clapping and whistling.
The play contained a very witty, clever and humorous script. One example would be Rachel’s explanation of twins, which created a burst of applause from the audience. In addition, there was spontaneous improvisation, such as when James Corden asked two men from the audience to help him lift the trunk, saying “This is our 211th show and no one’s managed to do that!” He also mentions how they both have “the same haircut” and are “dressed for the 60s”. He also slapped one of the men’s arse and stood on the trunk when the men tried to lift it.
My favourite aspect about the play was the amount of audience involvement. Moments such as the sandwich sequence, with James Corden constantly referencing to the audience with his reaction to maltesers and sandwich offers. Also, the Christine Patterson sequence was very believable and convincing up to point where she got sprayed with a fire extinguisher and then taken off the stage by a member of stage management.
Overall I really enjoyed watching this play and found it hugely enjoyable and entertaining. I liked how it had a mix of traditional Commedia with 21st century comedy. The audience interaction moments were the most shocking yet hilarious.
Newspaper The Sun describes “One Man, Two Guvners” as a “slapstick comedy, double entendres, an amazing cast and even a Corden xylophone solo amounts to staggering value for money and a proper old-fashioned giggle,"
In addition, newspaper The Guardian described it as “one of the funniest productions in the National’s history”.
