Rave Reviews for ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS at the National

Nicholas Hytner's production of ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, a new play by Richard Bean based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, opened on Tuesday 24th May at the National Theatre (Lyttleton).

The production features James Corden in the role of Francis Henshall with Suzie Toase as Dolly, Fred Ridgeway as Charlie and Claire Lams as Pauline.

'In 1746, Carlo Goldoni wrote a classic comedy normally translated as The Servant of Two Masters. Richard Bean has used it for a riotous farce combining the original's structure with a particularly Anglo-Saxon verbal and physical humour. The result, a kind of Carry On Carlo, is one of the funniest productions in the National's history.' (Michael Billington, The Guardian)

'For as long as Corden can stay in the production, this is certain to become one of the biggest hits in the National’s history.' (Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com)

'adapted here by Richard Bean, was Carlo Goldoni’s 1746 Il Servitore di Due Padroni — Servant of two Masters — and Nicholas Hytner demonstrates with hilarious panache that nothing is new.' (Libby Purves, The Times)

'That last encomium falls to the fabulous Suzie Toase, playing an amply bosomed book-keeper by the name of (what else?) Dolly. Toase's walk - more of a wiggle, really - is as period-perfect as the deliberately hazy, picture-postcard sets.' (Matt Wolf, The Arts Desk).

'The show's crowning glory is James Corden...He button-holes the audience with asides and ad-libs, and turns the play's great set piece, in which he simultaneously serves dinner to his two masters, into one of the most inspired scenes of farcical comedy I have ever witnessed.' (Charles Spencer, The Telegraph)

'This is a show for lovers of accomplished buffoonery. The 20 minutes leading up to the interval are pure comic bliss... Nicholas Hytner's production, with a sharp design by Mark Thompson and infectious music by Grant Olding, bubbles over with humour. A surefire hit.' (Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard)

'One Man, Two Guvnors, one massive hit' (Paul Taylor, The Independent)

'Nicholas Hytner expertly harnesses that comedy energy to build a tight, towering succession of character shtick, sight gags, slapstick and chase sequences unseen since "Noises Off." ' (David Benedict, Variety)

Tickets can be booked here.