CVRep’s current offering is Richard Bean’s “One Man, 2 Guvnors,” an adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters.” The play does not easily fit into any one category. I would consider it a play with music rather than a musical, even though it features eight songs. They are played before the show starts to set the mood and again after most scenes, but unlike in a traditional musical, these songs rarely reflect the plot or further character development.
The play itself can leave you laughing so hard you miss the next line, then suddenly wondering why a particular scene feels like it wandered in from a different play. It’s a strange collision of Music Hall, farce, slapstick, improv and even touches of melodrama. Structurally, it delivers moments of brilliance and then moments of awkwardness as it segues from one form to another. This is not to say that the show, under the direction of Howard Shangraw, fails to deliver a multitude of laughs. For once, I’ll skip the usual plot synopsis, since what plot there is serves mainly as a framework for various comedic moments. It succeeds in that, largely due to the strength of its cast and its talented lead, who does the yeoman’s work of keeping the show aloft.
As the titular “One Man,” Francis Henshall (the role that launched James Corden’s fame in the U.S.), Peter Fanone delivers a performance with enough wattage to light up the entire valley. His self-delight in completing a task, no matter how convoluted the path he chooses, elicits strong laughs. At times, he breaks the fourth wall and interacts with the audience. Regardless of what happens or is said, nothing causes him to miss a beat, and that is no simple feat. He clearly has the audience in the palm of his hand, and everyone seems happy to be there. However, a performance this energetically comedic has a downside. When he’s not on stage or not the focus of a scene, there is often a noticeable slump in energy and laughs. This is less the fault of the production and more the result of the script’s frequent and sometimes awkward stylistic shifts.
Aside from Mr. Fanone, several cast members kept me chuckling and occasionally in full guffaws. Haley Kooyman as Dolly, the sexually charged woman who fuels Francis’ desires, is brilliantly funny. Her deadpan delivery and asides to the audience keep the laughs coming whenever she has the stage. Nick Apostolina’s portrayal of Alan Dangle, a vain and perpetually overacting actor, is spot‑on and very funny. Douglas Scott Sorenson is also hilarious as Alfie, a first‑time waiter who likely sets a record for the number of pratfalls and slapstick “injuries” suffered by any character in theatre history.
So, although thin on plot and uneven in tone and pacing, if you enjoy farce, slapstick comedy and pure silliness, there are still plenty of laughs to be found throughout the evening.
“One Man, 2 Guvnors” is playing now through February 1, 2026. For tickets and further information, visit their website at www.CVREP.org.