One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean

27/11/25

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from the dad of his fiancee. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

Holed up at The Cricketers Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be reunited with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

Based on the classic Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, in this new English version by prizewinning playwright Richard Bean, with songs and music by Grant Olding, sex, food and money are high on the agenda.

 

Reading - 25th November from 7:30pm

Auditions - 27th November from 7:30pm

 

THE ROLES - 

 

Francis Henshall (M, 30s) – An out of work skiffle musician and a modern Harlequin character who is working for two employers at once whilst succumbing to his impulses to chase food and Dolly. Great opportunity for physical comedy.

Stanley Stubbers (M, 20s/30s) – One of Francis’ guvnors, boyfriend of Rachel and very much the classic upper class twit. Highly confident though currently on the run for murder.

Rachel Crabbe (F, 20s/30s) – One of Francis’ guvnors, girlfriend of Stanley but spends most of the play disguised as her twin brother the gangster Roscoe

Dolly (F, 30s) – A bookkeeper working for Charlie Clench and the subject of Francis’ desire. Efficient, bossy and flirtatious.

Charlie Clench (M, 50s+) – Local gangster who has arranged the marriage of his daughter Pauline to fellow gangster Roscoe Crabbe. Despite being older he can still easily intimidate.

Pauline Clench (F, 20s/30s) – Daughter of Charlie. Despite being promised to Roscoe she is in love with Alan. Naïve in the ways of the world to the point of appearing rather dim to the other characters.

Alan Dangle (M, 20s/30s) – Son of Harry Dangle. In love with Pauline but constantly lost in the drama he has sought in his career as an amateur actor. Fancies himself the leading man and constantly dramatic with both his physicality and his dialogue.

Harry Dangle (M, 50s+) – Father to Alan Dangle and a sleezy solicitor, though still a dapper gentleman.

Lloyd Boateng (M, 50s+)– A long standing friend of Charlie’s who is the landlord of the Cricketers’ Arms pub

Alfie (M, 70s) – A slow elderly waiter who is content to plod along in his job without any real sense of urgency.

Gareth (M, any age) – the head waiter at Lloyd’s pub, runs the place like a well oiled machine.