LONDON WWW.OBERONBOOKS.COM First published in 2011 by Oberon Books Ltd US version first published in 2012 by Oberon Books Ltd 521 Caledonian Road, London N7 9RH Tel: +44 (0) 20 7607 3637 / Fax: +44 (0) 20 7607 3629 e-mail: www.oberonbooks.com Reprinted with corrections in 2011 (thrice), 2012 Copyright Richard Bean 2011, 2012 Richard Bean is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted his moral rights. All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE, . No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the authors prior written consent. Lyrics on pages 93-94, co-written with Grant Olding, are reproduced by permission of Macnaughton Lord Representation, 44 South Molton Street, London W1K 5RT.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise be circulated without the publishers consent in any form of binding or cover or circulated electronically other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on any subsequent purchaser. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. PB ISBN: 978-1-84943-384-6 Digital ISBN: 978-1-84943-282-5 Cover image: Photograph by Hugo Glendinning Design by Spotco Printed in the USA, McNaughton&Gunn inc, ltd. Michigan. Visit www.oberonbooks.com to read more about all our books and to buy them.
was developed from a comprehensive and detailed literal translation from the Italian by Francesca Manfrin.
was developed from a comprehensive and detailed literal translation from the Italian by Francesca Manfrin.
Characters
CHARLIE CHARLIE THE DUCK CLENCH
50s, Brighton based but originally London (Pantalone) PAULINE CLENCH
his daughter, Brighton (Clarice) HARRY DANGLE
60s, crooked attorney, Rottingdean / tries to be
posh Brighton (Lombardi)
Partner in Dangle, Berry and Bush attorneys. ALAN
the son of Dangle (Silvio) DOLLY
30s, an employee of Clench, Brighton (Smeraldina) LLOYD BOATENG
50s, a friend to Clench, Ex London/Jamaican (Brighella) FRANCIS
Essex Boy (Truffaldino) RACHEL CRABBE
mid-20s, London (Beatrice Rasponi; 1st Master) STANLEY STUBBERS
mid-20s, Home counties, privately educated
(Florindo Aretusi; 2nd Master) Waiters/Porters as required
Notes on text Im not using continental scene changes, ie: the scene doesnt change on the entrance of new character, rather scene changes are restricted to time and location changes.
One Man, Two Guvnors was first performed at Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre on the 17th May 2011 with the following
cast: GARETH, David Benson STANLEY STUBBERS, Oliver Chris ENSEMBLE, Polly Conway FRANCIS HENSHALL, James Corden ENSEMBLE, Jolyon Dixon ALFIE, Tom Edden HARRY DANGLE, Martyn Ellis ENSEMBLE, Derek Elroy LLOYD BOATENG, Trevor Laird PAULINE CLENCH, Claire Lams ENSEMBLE, Paul Lancaster ENSEMBLE, Fergus March ENSEMBLE, Gareth Mason CHARLIE CLENCH, Fred Ridgeway ALAN, Daniel Rigby RACHEL CRABBE, Jemima Rooper ENSEMBLE, Clare Thomson DOLLY, Suzie Toase
Director, Nicholas Hytner
Associate Director, Cal McCrystal
Designer, Mark Thompson
Lighting Designer, Mark Henderson
Music, Grant Olding
Sound Designer, Paul Arditti
Fight Director, Kate Waters
One Man, Two Guvnors was first performed at Music Box Theatre, New York on the 6th April, 2012 with the following cast: STANLEY STUBBERS, Oliver Chris FRANCIS HENSHALL, James Corden ALFIE, Tom Edden HARRY DANGLE, Martyn Ellis ENSEMBLE, Brian Gonzales ENSEMBLE, Eli James LLOYD BOATENG, Trevor Laird PAULINE CLENCH, Claire Lams GARETH, Ben Livingston ENSEMBLE, Sarah Manton ENSEMBLE, Stephen Pilkington CHARLIE CLENCH, Fred Ridgeway ALAN, Daniel Rigby RACHEL CRABBE, Jemima Rooper ENSEMBLE, David Ryan Smith ENSEMBLE, Natalie Smith DOLLY, Suzie Toase
Director, Nicholas Hytner
Physical Comedy Director, Cal McCrystal
Composer, Grant Olding
Designer, Mark Thompson
Lighting Designer, Mark Henderson
Sound Designer, Paul Arditti
Associate Director, Adam Penford
Original UK Casting, Alastair Coomer CDG
US Casting, Tara Rubin Casting CSA
New York Producers Bob Boyett, National Theatre of Great Britain
under the direction of Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr, National Angels, Chris Harper, Tim Levy, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, Harriet Leve, Stephanie P. McClelland, Broadway Across America, Daryl Roth, Jam Theatricals, Sonia Friedman, Harris Karma, Deborah Taylor, Richard Willis
Act One
SCENE ONE
As the audience take their seats the skiffle band plays.
Lights down. 1963, April, mid morning. A room in CHARLIEs house in Brighton. A framed photo of Queen Elizabeth II at coronation upstage. CHARLIE, HARRY DANGLE, ALAN DANGLE, PAULINE, LLOYD, DOLLY and other friends and family. Hardly anything remains from a buffet of typically English party food.
Maybe one lone cheese and pineapple on a stick, and some peanuts. A party can of beer etc. All very lively and jolly, with the skiffle band playing, laughter, drinks, dancing. The song finishes. PAULINE and ALAN kiss. They toast Pauline & Alan CHARLIE taps a glass for quiet. DANGLE: Happy engagement! Pauline and Alan! ALL: Pauline and Alan! DOLLY: Come on Charlie! Give us a speech! LLOYD: Speech! CHARLIE: Ive only ever spoken three times, formally, in public, in my life, and each time Ive been banged up by the judge straight afterwards! For twenty years, me and Paulines mother, Jean, were happy, and then, unfortunately, just by chance, we met each other.
Alan, youve decided to get married, and as a man who has been married, Id just like to say, I do hope you realize youre making a terrible mistake. ALL: (Beat of concerned silence, then laughter.) CHARLIE: I done me best bringing up Pauline, on me own, after her muvver (Chokes.) sorry LLOYD: doin well Charlie. CHARLIE: Ive had to be her dad and her mum after her muvver (Chokes.) PAULINE: Its alright dad. CHARLIE: after her muvver left me and went to live in Spain. Its a disappointment that Jean cant be here in Brighton at her daughters engagement party, and a shame she cant even afford a stamp for a card neither. But Im not gonna go on about it.
Id like to thank Alans father, my attorney. DANGLE: (Coming forward.) Ecce homo! CHARLIE: No Latin! Please! I have enough difficulty understanding you when youre speaking English. But, seriously, wivout Harry, I wouldnt be here today, Id be behind bars, where, lets face it, by rights, I oughta be. Over to you Alan. CHARLIE steps back. Applause for CHARLIE.
ALAN kneels, with a flourish, before PAULINE. ALAN: Pauline, I give you my hand.