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One Man, Two Guvnors to be tweaked for Broadway | One Man, Two Guvnors to be tweaked for Broadway |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News | By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News |
Hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors has had a sell-out run at the National Theatre, toured the UK and is now in the West End, prior to a Broadway transfer. | Hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors has had a sell-out run at the National Theatre, toured the UK and is now in the West End, prior to a Broadway transfer. |
But the job is not yet over for playwright Richard Bean. | But the job is not yet over for playwright Richard Bean. |
He has revealed he will have to change parts of the play for a US audience before it opens in New York next year. | |
"I've got to work all winter rewriting it for the Americans because they don't understand any of the cricket references," Bean told the BBC. | "I've got to work all winter rewriting it for the Americans because they don't understand any of the cricket references," Bean told the BBC. |
That might be easier said than done, with much of the play set inside and outside a pub named The Cricketers Arms. One comedy scene involves a life-size cut-out of cricket legend WG Grace. | That might be easier said than done, with much of the play set inside and outside a pub named The Cricketers Arms. One comedy scene involves a life-size cut-out of cricket legend WG Grace. |
Several gags about the Isle of Wight's Parkhurst prison might also get the chop. | Several gags about the Isle of Wight's Parkhurst prison might also get the chop. |
But Bean, a former stand-up comedian, promises that the changes won't be too drastic. | But Bean, a former stand-up comedian, promises that the changes won't be too drastic. |
"The reason that the play works is that it is end-of-the-pier British comedy and obviously we're not going to destroy that." | "The reason that the play works is that it is end-of-the-pier British comedy and obviously we're not going to destroy that." |
Slapstick adaptation | Slapstick adaptation |
One Man, Two Guvnors, which stars James Corden, opened at London's Adelphi Theatre on Monday night to rave reviews. | One Man, Two Guvnors, which stars James Corden, opened at London's Adelphi Theatre on Monday night to rave reviews. |
Michael Billington's five-star review in The Guardian praised the show's "mixture of improvisation with immaculate planning". | Michael Billington's five-star review in The Guardian praised the show's "mixture of improvisation with immaculate planning". |
"When [Corden] begged a sandwich from the front rows, someone unexpectedly threw a pack of pork pies at him. Without losing his cool, Corden turned to the rest of us in mock-despair and cried 'have the first three rows come in a special bus tonight?'" | "When [Corden] begged a sandwich from the front rows, someone unexpectedly threw a pack of pork pies at him. Without losing his cool, Corden turned to the rest of us in mock-despair and cried 'have the first three rows come in a special bus tonight?'" |
In another five-star review, The Telegraph's Charles Spencer said "Grit your teeth, increase your credit card bill and briefly forget your cares at the funniest show in town." | In another five-star review, The Telegraph's Charles Spencer said "Grit your teeth, increase your credit card bill and briefly forget your cares at the funniest show in town." |
Corden stars as a sacked skiffle musician working for two bosses in 1960s Brighton. | Corden stars as a sacked skiffle musician working for two bosses in 1960s Brighton. |
The play is a slapstick adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's 18th century comedy The Servant of Two Masters. | The play is a slapstick adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's 18th century comedy The Servant of Two Masters. |
Bean picked up a best play prize at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday - although he was in fact honoured for two scripts: One Man, Two Guvnors and The Heretic. | Bean picked up a best play prize at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday - although he was in fact honoured for two scripts: One Man, Two Guvnors and The Heretic. |
Nicholas Hytner's production of the former opened to an ecstatic reception at the National Theatre in May. | Nicholas Hytner's production of the former opened to an ecstatic reception at the National Theatre in May. |
After its four-month run at the Adelphi, it will open at New York's Music Box Theater in April, with Corden leading the cast. | After its four-month run at the Adelphi, it will open at New York's Music Box Theater in April, with Corden leading the cast. |
The Broadway transfer follows other recent British successes such as the National Theatre's War Horse production and the Royal Court's Jerusalem, which is now back in the West End. | The Broadway transfer follows other recent British successes such as the National Theatre's War Horse production and the Royal Court's Jerusalem, which is now back in the West End. |
But Bean doesn't see the transfer as part of a new British Broadway invasion. | But Bean doesn't see the transfer as part of a new British Broadway invasion. |
"There's a long history of Brits doing quite well on Broadway, and New York is just to the left of Wales really, isn't it?" he said. | "There's a long history of Brits doing quite well on Broadway, and New York is just to the left of Wales really, isn't it?" he said. |
"I think if British playwrights were really storming Los Angeles and California then you'd have something to talk about." | "I think if British playwrights were really storming Los Angeles and California then you'd have something to talk about." |
Bean is not keen on the idea that One Man, Two Guvnors might follow other National Theatre exports - like The History Boys and War Horse - to the big screen. | Bean is not keen on the idea that One Man, Two Guvnors might follow other National Theatre exports - like The History Boys and War Horse - to the big screen. |
"On I technical point I would counsel against it," he said. "Essentially One Man, Two Guvnors is a farce and really think that is a specific genre for the theatre. | "On I technical point I would counsel against it," he said. "Essentially One Man, Two Guvnors is a farce and really think that is a specific genre for the theatre. |
"If anyone is mad enough to do it they can come and talk to me, but I'm not going to anybody suggesting it." | "If anyone is mad enough to do it they can come and talk to me, but I'm not going to anybody suggesting it." |
Bean's plays include England People Very Nice for the National, Toast for the Royal Court and The Hypochondriac for the Almeida. | Bean's plays include England People Very Nice for the National, Toast for the Royal Court and The Hypochondriac for the Almeida. |
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