Review: OSU's ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Delivers Slapstick Silliness

Goofy antics, cartoonish sets and lighthearted laughs come together in the Ohio State University Department of Theatre's production of "One Man, Two Guvnors."

Presented in the Drake Performance and Event Center on OSU's West Campus -- right next to Ohio Stadium -- the show transports audiences to the brightly colored, bold-printed era of England in the 1960s.

Plaid pantsuits and swingy dresses printed with eye-popping neon floral patterns abound as the characters navigate an absurd plot peppered with moments of exaggerated physical comedy.

"One Man, Two Guvnors" plays out like a classic sitcom with the audience supplying the laugh track. It immediately thrusts viewers into a head-spinning, convoluted plot, all while sifting through a rapid-fire barrage of names, accents and vague mentions of past events.

The play begins in the living room of Charlie "The Duck" Clench (Chorsie Calbert IV), who is celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Pauline (Caitlyn Prather), to aspiring actor Alan Dangle (Albert J. Coyne).

The happy occasion soon takes a sour turn when Pauline's original fiance, a notorious gangster named Roscoe Crabbe (Elizabeth Girvin), arrives and threatens to take Pauline's hand in marriage despite her love for Alan.

Once the initial introductions are completed in this contentious opening scene, the audience spends the rest of the first act following unlikely narrator Francis Henshall (Gabriel Simms) through the ensuing whirlwind of action and dialogue.

Francis is a surprising character on which the entire plot hinges. Dressed in plaid trousers with a matching jacket, he is introduced as Roscoe Crabbe's minder. Yet his insatiable hunger for anything edible clouds his mind and shallowly fuels his actions.

Soon, Francis finds himself employed by both Roscoe and a mysterious town visitor named Stanley Stubbers (Michael K. Erickson). Francis's desire to use these two jobs to get himself a decent meal results in his management of several ridiculous situations, many of which he survives through pure, dumb luck.

As Francis, Simms takes on a demanding task of performing almost two straight hours in every scene, channeling the high energy of English comedian James Corden, who originated the role in 2011.

Simms and the rest of the cast wholeheartedly embrace and commit to the ridiculousness of the commedia dell'arte style.

The success of "One Man, Two Guvnors" relies on one's outlook going into the theater prior to the show. The plot is chock-full of fast-paced jokes, audience banter and humorous stunts, but ultimately, if slapstick comedy is not your thing, you might only find a few one-liners that are worthy of a chuckle.

"One Man, Two Guvnors" is approximately two hours with one, 15-minute intermission.

The Ohio State Department of Theatre will present "One Man, Two Guvnors" at the Thurber Theatre in the Drake Performance and Event Center from Nov. 10 through Nov. 20.

More information regarding showtimes and ticket pricing can be found on the OSU Department of Theatre's website.

The Drake Performance and Event Center is located on OSU's Columbus campus at 1849 Cannon Drive.