By Susan Shinn

For The Salisbury Post

Take one easily confused man, two bosses, a knock-out secretary, an extremely old waiter, loads of slapstick, a terrific band, and you’ve got “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

The British farce debuted last night on the Meroney stage at Piedmont Players Theatre.

Sporting formal attire, Clyde was in his usual spot at the door, welcoming theater-goers. We met up at intermission.

“Clyde, that was so funny when you …”

“No!” Clyde said. “You can’t write that!”

“What about when Brien went into the audience and …”

“No!” Clyde said. “You can’t tell about that.”

OK, Clyde. Fine.

What I CAN tell you is that this is a silly show, which is what British humor is all about. The one man working for two guvnors — that would be bosses here in the States — is none other than Brien Lewis, president of Catawba College.

Our local educator extraordinaire and Renaissance man showed off his acting chops during an evening filled with zany sight gags and broad physical humor — all the while managing to toss off one-liners about Canada (his homeland) and liberal arts education (I am not making this up). Lewis plays Francis Henshall, who is a — shall we say — not-so-bright guy who gets the bright idea of working for two gentlemen at the same time.

(Being the Rowan County girl I am, I kept thinking they were saying “Hinshaw.” I looked around for Wayne Hinshaw, retired Salisbury Post photographer, and was sadly disappointed when I finally studied my playbill.)

Lewis’ cohorts in crime include Erin Fanelly, who plays Rachel Crabbe. It seems Rachel’s boyfriend Stanley Stubbers (Scott Teeter) has murdered her twin brother Roscoe. But Rachel’s on the lam because she witnessed it all and decides to masquerade as Roscoe.

(Only in Salisbury would the waiter who serves you lunch end up entertaining you after dinner. Teeter and his wife, Heather, own and operate Sweet Meadow Café.)

Jim Moyer is Charlie “The Duck” Clench (he of the unexplained nickname) who can’t seem to understand why Rachel and Roscoe aren’t identical twins. This joke runs throughout the play. Charlie’s attorney — because all Brits count solicitors among their staffs, right? — is Harry Dangle, played by John Snell. Harry is fond of going around pontificating as attorneys often do, mostly in Latin.

There’s Dolly the secretary, played by Sara Lee, who’s loaded oodles of va-va-voom into her fun role. And there’s Alan Dangle, a wanna-be actor, played by Austin Young, who chews the scenery in just the appropriate amounts with his over-the-top performance.

“Whole nations will be slain before you take my love from me!” is but one example of his eye-rolling lines. Another: “I will return like a storm, and everyone will get wet!”

The object of his affection is Pauline Clench, a sweet but daft girl played by Sarah Hallett. As we say in the South, bless her heart. Pauline’s father has arranged for her to marry Roscoe — who is now of course dead — but she’s having none of it.

Benjamin Thomas is Alfie, an ancient waiter who ends up falling down the stairs at least four times during the course of the evening. Fans of The Carol Burnett Show may think Thomas is channeling Tim Conway’s Old Man with his sloooooow shuffle.

Rounding out this crazy cast are Marvin King as Lloyd Boateng and Fredric Schuttenberg as Gareth.

British farce is full of slapstick, double entendre, slightly bawdy humor — or extremely bawdy humor — and really, just plain silliness. “One Man, Two Guvnors” fits that description perfectly.

A special treat for the evening is the performance by the band, The Craze, interwoven between scenes and at intermission. Be sure to arrive early to hear the ’60s-inspired, toe-tapping music courtesy of Graham Carlton, Tripp Edwards, David Edwards and Scott VanHatten.

The madness continues until the play reaches three happy endings — quite appropriate for a piece that’s called “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

“One Man, Two Guvnors” performances continue tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., as well as April 29-30 and May 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. April 29 is Value Night, with all seats $10. A matinee is set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Adult tickets are $15 and students/seniors are $12. For more information, call the Piedmont Players box office at 704-633-5471 or visit www.piedmontplayers.com .

Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury.