PICK Me Up Theatre have been as quick off the mark as Francis Henshall in pursuit of a stray sandwich in snapping up One Man, Two Guvnors for a York production.

Hull playwright Richard Bean's award-winning comedy has been a smash hit for the National Theatre in London, on Broadway and on tour and now Robert Readman is directing this Bean feast of farce at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from next Wednesday to Sunday.

Bean's 2011 play grabs Carlo Goldoni's Venetian work by the lapels to transform The Servant Of Two Masters from 1743 Italian commedia dell'arte into a rumbustious British blast of slapstick, songs and one-liners in 1963 Brighton.

Sacked from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall finds employment with small-time East End gangster Roscoe Crabbe, who is in fact Roscoe's twin sister Rachel in disguise. Roscoe has been killed by Rachel's boyfriend, upper-class twit Stanley, whereupon the ever-hungry Francis spots the opportunity for another meal ticket by taking on a second job working for Stanley. And, of course, neither Stanley nor Rachel is aware that both are employing the same man as their inefficient minder.

York Press: East Riding playwright Richard Bean.

Hull playwright Richard Bean

"Confused? It doesn't matter. From start to finish it's a feast of visual and verbal humour," says Robert Readman. 'What makes One Man, Two Guvnors work so beautifully is Richard Bean's complete understanding of the British funny bone. He takes Goldoni's Italian play and combines it with stand-up comedy, door-slamming farce, Sixties' skiffle music and Carry On 'subtlety', and it's a delight throughout."

Readman's cast will be led by Phil Grainger as Francis Henshall, the role that brought James Corden an Olivier award, while Nick Lewis will play Charlie Clench; Sam Baxter, Alan Dangle; Maya Tether, Dolly; Maya Bartley O’Dea, Roscoe, and James Potter, Stanley Stubbers.

Mick Liversidge will turn himself into doddery octogenarian waiter Alfie, the part that Bean wrote expressly for fellow son of Hull Martin Barrass after seeing him in comic stooge mode in the York Theatre Royal pantomime. Further roles go to Jonny Holbek as Lloyd Pretorius, Craig Kirby as Harry Dangle, Joe Hudson as Gareth and Holly Surtees Smith as Pauline Clench.

Casting an eye over Readman's company, actor-musician Phil Grainger not only runs Gobbledigook Theatre in Easingwold and By Candlelight concerts in York. This self-styled "happy-go-lucky actor, entertainer, sublime vocal talent and all-round nice chap" also has a year-long artistic residency at Bolton Abbey, near Skipton, directing his new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Wind In The Willows in an outdoor Gobbledigook show from July 23 to August 7. More of which at a later date.

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Pick Me Up Theatre's poster for One Man, Two Guvnors

Nick Lewis, a former professional actor, is head of drama at Queen Margaret’s School in Escrick and last performed on a York stage as Eddie in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at the Grand Opera House. Sam Baxter appeared in Great Expectations at the West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year; Maya Tether made her mark as Tracy Turnblad in York Stage Musicals' Hairspray, when Maya Bartley O'Dea joined her as Penny, subsequently playing Madame Thenardier in Pick Me Up's Les Miserables. James Potter is a greengrocer from Thirsk by day, actor by night.

Readman's cast members are full of enthusiasm for Bean's comedy. "Francis Henshall is such an enjoyable role," says Phil. "It feels part pantomime, which is always a right old laugh, but rather set in something more real than a pantomime. Well, slightly more real; it is a farce after all.

"It's a joy to play a role where characters are coming on from every side of the stage and I'm stood in the middle bouncing between them from line to line. Of course, that means the timing has to be very tight, which can feel daunting, and it also means a lot of lines, but Richard Bean has written such a natural script that it's not proving to be a problem for any of us."

Phil caught the touring production last year. "I instantly saw its potential. Its not often there's a show that's just so funny," he says. "I'm a huge fan of Fawlty Towers, and one of the first plays David Jarman and I wrote was a classic farce, so this is totally up my street. And to get the chance to play a character like Francis... unmissable!"

Holly enthuses: "One Man, Two Guvnors has definitely been the most fun I've ever had doing a show. It's silly but completely genius at the same time. York is in for a treat with this one."

York Press: Martin Barrass in One Man, Two Guvnors

York Theatre Royal pantomime perennial Martin Barrass, playing hapless Alfie  in the National Theatre production of One Man Two Guvnors

Maya concurs: "This show is the complete package, with a fantastic storyline delivered by an amazing cast. I honestly can't wait to be part of it. If this doesn't leave the audience in stitches then I don't know what will."

Nick says there are "more deliciously over-the-top stereotypical characters than you can shake a stick at", while Mick praises the "great script and wonderful fast-paced old fashioned comedy farce" and Jonny raises an eyebrow by commenting, "I haven't indulged in so much frivolous gaiety since my brief stint in Parkhurst".

Joe reckons the show makes you laugh out loud from start to finish, whether you are watching or taking part. "This production has been a pleasure to be a part of and I'm sure it'll leave the audience leaving with smiles on their faces," he says.

Sam fell in love with Bean's "fantastic adaptation of Goldini's classic" after seeing the National Theatre's production in 2014. "Playing the role of Alan Dangle, the Actor, has been a pleasure in the rehearsal room and I can't wait for him to grace the stage. Be prepared for a cracking evening."

Last but not least, James appears to be slipping into character, when he exclaims: "Buzz wham! Whoever wrote that?! Wrap his nuts in bacon and send him to the nurse!"

Vital to Bean's play too are Grant Olding's vibrant skiffle compositions, suggests Robert Readman. "Think of the early Beatles mixed with Lonnie Donegan, played by The Craze and involving all the cast on vocals, led by University of York’s James Wood, who played Jerry in Pick Me Up’s production of Buddy last year," says the director. "The show is full of great songs and the music is fantastic."

Pick Me Up Theatre presents One Man, Two Guvnors, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, May 11 to 15, 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday and Sunday matinees. Box office: thelittleboxoffice.com/pickmeuptheatre