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
