MET to Open 18th Season with ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) will present the inaugural play in its 18th Mainstage season, the hysterical hit show, One Man, Two Guvnors. Written by Richard Bean, and directed by MET Artistic Director Tad Janes, the play will run at MET for four weeks beginning September 11.

One Man, Two Guvnors is an adaptation of the 1743 commedia dell'arte comedy by Carlo Goldoni, Servant of two Masters. Set in Brighton in 1963, this show presents slapstick humor at its finest, with actors falling down stairs, slamming doors, making double entendres and interacting with the audience. At the heart of the story is Francis Henshall, an easily manipulated man who becomes employed by two criminals, Roscoe Crabbe and Stanley Stubbers. In Francis' efforts to keep both men in the dark about the others' existence, he launches a series of chaotic and hilarious events that will be sure to engage audience members from start to finish!

The play received its premiere at the National Theatre in London in 2011 and subsequently went on to tour the world including a limited Broadway engagement that netted the lead actor James Corden, the host of The Late Late Show on CBS, the Tony Award for best actor in a play. The show garnered numerous awards, including the Evening Standard Theatre Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Play. Additionally, it received unanimous critical acclaim. The Daily Mail called it "The funniest show on the planet" and The Guardian praised it as "A triumph of visual and verbal comedy." The show's playwright, Richard Bean, is an English writer and former comedian who has written over a dozen plays including Harvest and Made in Dagenham.

"This twist of Goldoni's Servant of Two Masters, really brings commedia into a modern context with great flair," said the show's director, Tad Janes. "The show is so much fun! Hilarious show with great music and an incredible cast!" That cast is comprised of Thomas Scholtes, Jenna Rossman, Matt Lee, Matt Baughman, Mathew Bannister, Shea Mikal Green, Isabel Duarte, Bob Herbertson and Todd Mazzie. The production will benefit from a terrifically creative design team of Eric Berninghausen (set), Doug Grove (sound), Giovanni Kavota (lights), Kirk Bowers (costumes) Lorrie Lee (props) and music director Thom Huenger.

One Man, Two Guvnors will run every Thursday through Sunday from September 11 to October 4 at MET, located in the historic FSK Hotel at 31 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick, MD. There will be a preview on September 10 at 8pm and new to this season the preview will be a pay what you can show (cash only/no reservations).

Starting this season, the opening performance-on the first Friday-will be celebrated with a pre-show reception sponsored by Giant Eagle. One Man, Two Guvnors' reception will be hosted by MET Board Chairs Kathy Young and Marty Erlichman. Following the show the party will continue with a free performance by the recently reunited band Silent Old Mtns.

Tickets to One Man, Two Guvnors are $17 through $26 and can be purchased at 301-694-4744, marylandensemble.org or in person at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre box office. As an added service this year the third Thursday of all Mainstage shows will be a sign-interpreted performance, for One Man, Two Guvnors that performance will be September 24 at 8pm.

This show is made possible in part through the support of MET's season sponsors including Comcast, Frederick Magazine, Key 103, Eagle 106.9, Maryland Oral Surgery Associates, The Frederick News Post and both the Frederick and Maryland Arts Councils. For more information on the MET's production of One Man, Two Guvnors or any of the MET's other programs including The Ensemble School, The Fun Company or The Comedy Pigs you can visit marylandensemble.org.

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