One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Contents About This Pack ................................................................1 Background Information ..................................................2 Teaching Information ........................................................4 Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis..................................6 Find Out More ...................................................................11 1 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack About This learning pack supports the National Theatre’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, directed by Nicholas Hytner, which opened on 24th May 2011 at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre in London. Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play. 1 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 15th September, 2011 Location – Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+ Cast Dolly..................................................................Suzie Toase Lloyd Boateng ..................................................Trevor Laird Charlie "the Duck" Clench ........................ Fred Ridgeway Pauline Clench .................................................Claire Lams Harry Dangle ................................................... Daniel Rigby Francis Henshall .......................................... James Corden Rachel Crabbe ........................................... Jemima Rooper Stanley Stubbers ............................................. Oliver Chris Gareth ........................................................... David Benson Alfie ....................................................................Tom Edden Ensemble ....................................................... Polly Conway Ensemble ..........................................................Derek Elroy Ensemble .................................................... Paul Lancaster Ensemble ...................................................... Fergus March Ensemble ..................................................... Gareth Mason Ensemble .....................................................Clare Thomson 'The Craze' Guitar..............................................................Grant Olding Guitar .............................................................Philip James Drums .................................................... Benjamin Brooker Ensemble ...................................................... Jolyon Dixon 2 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 15th September, 2011 Location – Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+ Creative Team Director ...................................................... Nicholas Hytner Writer ............................. Richard Bean (after Carlo Goldoni) Associate Director ....................................... Cal McCrystal Designer ..................................................... Mark Thompson Music ............................................................... Grant Olding Fight Director ..................................................Kate Waters Choreographer / Staff Director ...................... Adam Penford Sound Designer ................................................. Paul Arditti Lighting Designer .................................... Mark Henderson 3 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Teaching Information This production is particularly suitable for: • Drama and theatre students studying Goldoni’s A Servant of Two Masters for A ‘Level • Anyone studying Commedia dell’arte, physical comedy and slapstick • Anyone interested in re-imagined contemporary productions of classic plays • Drama and theatre students studying Nicholas Hytner as a contemporary practitioner In particular you might like to explore: • Richard Bean’s adaptation of Goldoni’s original A Servant of Two Masters and whether moving the action of the play to 1960s Brighton makes it more relevant and more amusing for a contemporary audience. • How the design of the production contributes to the storytelling and physical comedy • How the principles of commedia dell’arte are used in the production. • How the music and sound design help to create the world of the play. There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it. Other comedies Production Date Playwright Director London Assurance 2010 Dion Boucicault Nicholas Hytner She Stoops to Conquer 2012 Oliver Goldsmith Jamie Lloyd Twelfth Night 2017 William Shakespeare Simon Godwin 4 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Teaching Information Other adaptations of classic plays Production Date Adaptor/Playwright Director Yerma 2017 Simon Stone after Nicholas Hytner Federico García Lorca Other productions featuring members of the same creative team Production Date Artist London Assurance 2010 Richard Bean - Adaptor Hamlet 2010 Nicholas Hytner - Director Julius Caesar 2018 Nicholas Hytner - Director London Assurance 2010 Nicholas Hytner - Director Othello 2013 Nicholas Hytner - Director London Assurance 2010 Mark Thompson - Designer She Stoops to Conquer 2012 Mark Thompson - Designer Julius Caesar 2018 Paul Arditti - Sound Designer Coriolanus 2017 Mark Henderson - Lighting Designer Antigone 2012 Mark Henderson - Lighting Designer 5 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis One Man, Two Guvnors is based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni. While the plot is largely the same, this version renames the characters and moves the location from Venice, Italy to Brighton, England. Goldoni’s characters were based on commedia dell’arte stock characters, while Richard Bean certainly took influence, his are more naturalistic characters. Pre-show: A skiffle band “The Craze” sing Brighton Line. Act One, Scene One (0:02:20): In Charlie Clench’s house in Brighton, Charlie, Alan Dangle, Pauline Clench, Harry Dangle, Charlie’s bookkeeper Dolly and Charlie’s old friend Lloyd Boateng are celebrating the engagement of Pauline and Alan. (0:08:26) Francis Henshaw, the minder for revered London gangster Roscoe Crabbe arrives to claim money owed by Charlie. 6 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis He and Dolly openly flirt, with Francis offering to take her away to Majorca for a holiday. Roscoe was originally engaged to Pauline and has returned to claim her back. The guests are incredulous, as they thought Roscoe Crabbe was recently murdered by his twin sister’s boyfriend. (0:12:43) Roscoe enters, demanding to have Pauline back now he has returned, but both Pauline and Alan refute his claim. Charlie agrees to pay his debts. Once alone, Roscoe reveals to Lloyd that she is actually Rachel, Roscoe’s sister. It is true that Roscoe’s dead, and her and her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers are planning to elope to Australia together. Act One, Scene Two (0:21:27): In a Brighton street, Francis tells the story of how he was recruited by Roscoe/Rachel. It’s easy enough work, he says, but he’s permanently hungry. Stanley Stubbers enters, who is keeping a low profile following the murder of Roscoe. He offers to employ Francis as his minder and deliver letters for him while he keeps a low profile at the Cricketers Arms Inn. Despite already being employed, the prospect of having more money for food is too great. Francis’ other boss, Rachel, enters and gives him more jobs to do including another letter to deliver, which immediately begins confusing Francis. (0:36:00) Alan enters, demanding to see Roscoe and vowing to kill him. Hearing this, Stanley becomes terrified Roscoe is still alive and hunting him. (0:41:18) Francis re-enters with letters for both of his employers. Confused and hungry, he inadvertently eats Stanley’s letter so gives Stanley one of Rachel’s. Through this, Stanley discovers Rachel is in Brighton. Act One, Scene Three (0:53:13): Back in Charlie’s house, Charlie is trying to convince his daughter to marry Roscoe with the financial benefits it would involve, but Pauline insists she wants to marry Alan ‘for love’. 7 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis (0:54:54) Rachel (as Roscoe) arrives to follow up on her money. Alone with Pauline, she reveals her true identity, telling Rachel to go along with the planned wedding to give her and Stanley time to elope, leaving her free to marry Alan. Act One, Scene Four (1:01:32): Inside the Cricketers Arms, Francis’ anxiety - and hunger - is reaching boiling point. With the help of the old, decrepit waiter Alfie and unfortunate members of the audience, he struggles to provide lunch for both bosses while keeping them separate from each other and satisfying his insatiable hunger. Interval Act Two, Scene One (1:30:19): In the street Harry tries to convince Charlie to call off the marriage between Roscoe and Pauline but he refuses. Alan continues to vow violent revenge if he cannot marry 8 One Man, Two Guvnors − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis Pauline. (1:34:07) Pauline enters and Alan turns on her, accusing her of adultery. Pauline leaves in a fury at the accusation. Act Two, Scene Two (1:38:34): Dolly meets Francis in the street and gives him a letter for Roscoe. The two of them flirt, with Francis taking on the persona of the dashing Irish lover,