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    • The cast of One Man, Two Guv'nors rehearses the final number of the play.

    • Members of the skiffle band perform music in rehearsals.

One Man, Two Guv'nors Brings Laughter to The Hill

Katie Broun '19, Entertainment Editor and Katherine Takoudes '20, Assistant Entertainment Editor
The Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) ended the production season with the fast-paced British comedy, One Man, Two Guv’nors.
The Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) ended the production season with the fast-paced British comedy, One Man, Two Guv’nors. This show, inspired by the original Italian production, Servant of Two Masters, describes the life of Francis Henshall, an out-of-work skiffle player, played by Colin Flaumenhaft ’18. Set in 1963, in Brighton, England, Henshall is separately employed by two men and, in order to keep each of the men from meeting the other, he lives a complicated life. This production contained a highly talented cast, band, and crew and was a wonderful way to bring laughter to The Hill in the last few weeks of school.

This play was described by Stage Manager Leul Abate ’19 as “a genuinely funny show with a lot of great actors in it that make you laugh. This was a show for everyone, because everyone likes to laugh.” Sophomore Fi Schroth-Douma ’19, a member of the skiffle band, agreed: “One Man, Two Guv’nors is a comedy, so rehearsals were a wonderful way to lift spirits amid academic stress.” Flaumenhaft acknowledged the comedic aspects of the show saying, “One Man, Two Guv’nors is based of the style of commedia. It’s over the top and physical. The humor is very in your face and requires no thought. It’s easy-going and you can sit back and let it come at you.”

Hunter Congdon ’17, playing Harry Dangle, said he particularly enjoyed the production because it “allows for more comic improvisation than maybe there might be otherwise.” Lexi Zyskowski ’20, playing Dolly, the assistant of the gangster who employs Francis, agreed: “This show is hilarious. The jokes are laugh-out-loud funny and it is such a fun show to watch.”

The multiple facets of this play--the comedy, the musicality from the skifle band and even the British accents--allowed the whole cast to come into their own characters.

“Develop[ing] characters from England in the 1960s has been a fun experience and challenge,” said Zyskowski. Schroth-Douma described the decision to use Hopkins musicians as providing all of the “excitement of a musical, without the pressure.” Cast member Zander Blitzer ’18 loved the musical aspect because it gave her the opportunity to “sing genres of music that [she] doesn’t normally get to sing.”

HDA productions create wonderful art shared with the Hopkins community and friendships that are similar to a family atmosphere. Griffin Congdon ’20 recalled his year with this group of people: “ HDA is an inclusive, supportive, and hilarious group of people. We really help each other out, we spend a lot of time together, and we are united in our love to entertain.” Ensemble member Elizabeth Roy ’20 said, “For this show and theater in general, it’s about putting on a good show but also having fun. This show has structure but there are also opportunities to enjoy yourself.”
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