"One Man, Two Guvnors" is a two and a half hour play by Richard Bean who got his inspiration from the Italian play called "Servant of Two Masters," written almost three hundred years ago by Carlo Goldoni. The English adaptation of the comedy entertained the audience by employing themes that fuel popular television soaps today. With a plot line that includes themes such as jealousy, old age, love and adultery, it fuses elegantly well with the scattered punch lines and gags the play beautifully executes. The play revolves around the idea of improvisation which leaves the audience to debate which scenes were scripted and which were not making the audience having an amused and a happy emotional response to the play. As the play was a hybrid between Brechtian and naturalistic, the play world is symbolised and reminded by the actors that the play world was just a stage. For example, Henshell (played by Gavin Spokes) would freely talk to the audience, breaking the fourth wall, to further interact with the audience. Many methods and techniques were employed in the play. Technical aspects, conventions, forms, strategies and influences socially, historically and culturally have to be analysed deeply in order to explore the intricate storyline of "One Man, Two Guvnors.".
As early as scene 1, the atmosphere and tone of the play has already been casted as from the moment Spokes comes on stage in 'One Man, Two Guvnors', and, attempting to throw a peanut into his mouth, collides with a comfy chair, executing a perfect 180-degree fall, it's clear that you can call him the show's star clown without fear of contradiction. A friendly and joking atmosphere filled with a tone of teasing banter prepared the audience for an experience filled with laughter and softened even the most serious of theatregoers. A Brechtian technique used often in the play is breaking the fourth wall, which is used so effectively and easily by the actors.