Review Roundup: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

Richard Bean's revised version of Carlo Goldini's A Servant of Two Masters, titled: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS features James Corden in the title role.The production, directed by Nicolas Hynter, plays The National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre.

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS tells the story of Trffualdino (played by Corden) who is forced to use disguises, wit and lies to keep his two new masters from discovering that he has taken up two seperate serving jobs on the same day.

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Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph: The show's crowning glory is James Corden, now best known for the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey, but who first made his name at the National in Alan Bennett's The History Boys.

David Benedict, Variety: Hold the front page: Vaudeville Discovered Alive and Well... and living uproariously in Nicholas Hytner's joyous production of "One Man, Two Guvnors." Never heard of it? That's because it's Richard Bean's terrific 1960s revamp of Goldoni's much-loved commedia dell'arte farce "A Servant Of Two Masters." From Grant Olding's infectiously sunny skiffle-band songs through to James Corden's knockout performance in the title role, the production lifts audiences from mere happiness to eye-watering, comic hysteria.

Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage: 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. It's beguilingly designed by Mark Thompson as a love letter to Brighton, and punctuated with front cloth comedy turns by the cast themselves in cahoots with a splendid skiffle band.

Paul Taylor, The Independent: Driven by the dictates of his empty stomach and bewilderment over his duties, James Corden displays great natural gifts for physical clowning - whether picking a fight with himself that is a mad paroxysm of auto-pugilism or, in a sequence that could be called a tour de farce, dishing lunch to his two masters in separate rooms of The Cricketers' Arms, a challenge not helped by a doddery, cadaverous, 87-year-old fellow-waiter with a pacemaker, balance problems and an ongoing relationship with the staircase that its roughly that of rubbish to chute. "One Man, Two Guvnors," one massive hit.

Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard: The central figure is Francis Henshall beautifully brought to life by James Corden, who radiates confidence and charm. Francis takes whatever work he can get and finds himself employed by two gangsters. One is toffish Stanley Stubbers

Libby Purves, The Times: When the artistic director announces that, following his acclaimed Hamlet, he will personally direct an adaptation of an 18th-century classic of historical significance, one expects scholarly thoroughness. Cue trouser-dropping, slapstick, alliterative cross-talk, a pie in the face, a fat man in check tweeds

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