We’ve likely all heard the phrase “breaking the fourth wall,” where actors in a film or stage production ignore the imaginary barrier that separates them from their audience. It’s a technique that’s used sparingly, a notion that SMSU Theatre’s latest production, “One Man, Two Guvnors,” completely throws out the window in the best way possible.

The show is set in England in the 1960s, and centers around Francis, a slightly dim but entertaining man who has found himself in the awkward position of having two new jobs working for two different bosses. Francis’ struggle to hide the fact that he has two jobs from each of his bosses ends up revealing a larger story that leads to interactions with lots of entertaining characters and some inventive comedy.

As mentioned previously, this play doesn’t just break the fourth wall. It smashes it, and drags its audience along for the ride. Many characters, particularly Francis himself, will address the audience directly. This can range from asking the audience’s advice on certain matters, to even having them come up on stage and take part in the plot. This audience interaction and strong performances by the actors are what help to set “One Man, Two Guvnors” apart from other plays that I’ve seen.

The comedy is hilarious, and there’s a lot of running gags and self-referential humor, and for the most part, they really helped to give the characters a lot of personality. I won’t give any major plot points, as the play is best experienced spoiler free, but the story does go some places that you wouldn’t think that it would go.

Overall, I really enjoyed “One Man, Two Guvnors.” Despite some potentially awkward situations, myself and the rest of the audience were always laughing. I think this says a lot about the skill of both the play’s writers and the performers to push their viewers out of their comfort zone while still providing an entertaining experience. And it is an experience, more so than any play that I’ve ever been to. I highly encourage you to check it out if you ever get the chance.

   4 out of 5 Spurs.