ONE OF the biggest West End comedy hits of recent years is staged by Keighley Playhouse.

One Man, Two Guvnors promises a party atmosphere, live music and audience interaction from Monday to Saturday, March 6 to 11.

Richard Bean’s adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s 18th century comedy, The Servant Of Two Masters, was a huge success both in London and on tour around the UK.

The slapstick update is set in 1960s Brighton and focuses on Francis Henshall, an easily confused batman-come-butler who becomes separately employed by two men.

Roscoe Crabbe is a local gangster and Stanley Stubbers is an upper-class criminal.

Francis’s motivations throughout this corkscrew tale are as primal as his appetites: he wants food, and he wants a girl.

The reasons for his actions are simple, the consequences of them are the opposite, for this ingenuous, calmly-addled creature is chaos incarnate.

The play regularly ‘breaks the fourth wall’ with an infectious sense of wink-wink, nudge-nudge and the knowingly-never-undersold, and the result is infectious laughter.

Playhouse Kevin Moore said: “The secret is an air of comic freedom within a disciplined structure.

“There’s a mixture of improvisation with immaculate planning and yes, it’s a farce, but this one is also verbally funny. The gags begin immediately when the curtain goes up and they never stop until it comes down.”

Francis Henshall finds himself working for both a gangster and a criminal in hiding, both of whom are linked in a web of schemes, extortions and romantic associations. To prevent discovery, he must do everything he can to keep his two employers apart.

Simple? Well, you might think so, but not when both bosses happen to be in town. This has to be a recipe for near disaster for Francis, but on the other hand a good evening’s entertainment with fast-paced gags, funny stunts and audience banter.

Kevin added: “Adding to the production, the audience are greeted with live music ranging from skiffle to hillbilly supplied by Howlin’ Johnny & The Devil’s Rejects.

“Throughout the play the band move the storyline along between scenes as this deliberately evokes an era of variety and music hall, which was immensely popular in the early part of the 20th century.”

One Man, Two Guvnors is described as an ‘end-of-the-pier’ comedy – and the Playhouse suggests that if people aren’t laughing, then they might be on the wrong medication.

Performances begin at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and £7. Call 07599 890769 to book tickets.