The Full Monty

The Full Monty is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally and score by David Yazbek. In this Americanised musical stage version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name the action has moved from Sheffield to Buffalo, New York.

While spying on their wives and other women at a ‘Girls Night Out’, Jerry and Dave unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo, see how much they enjoy watching male strippers. Jerry is desperate for money as he is behind with his maintenance payments and unless he can pay the arrears he will lose access to his son. He comes up with the idea of putting on a strip show and, being ordinary guys, women would pay huge amounts to see them. He persuades Dave to go along with the idea and after getting two other workers to join them they decide to hold auditions. They manage to find two more, so now there are six of them and rehearsals begin. In preparing, they find themselves extremely exposed both physically and emotionally. As they conquer their fears, self- consciousness and anxieties the men come to discover that they are stronger as a group, so when Jerry drops the final bombshell they find the strength that they have in each other, gives them the courage to do ‘The Full Monty’. From the outset Danielle Kennedy as Georgie Bukatinsky (Dave’s wife) set alight the audience with her exuberant introduction of Buddy (Keno) Walsh, a ‘professional’ stripper at the club, who was very sexily played by Matthew McGregor and what a ‘cheeky’ exit he made! The six ‘strippers’ were each in their own way excellent. The main character Jerry Lukowski was outstandingly played by Andy Quinn. He captured the frustration, the anger, the passion and drive superbly. He has a terrific and powerful singing voice which was very much in evidence in his many songs but he also so touchingly sang ‘Breeze Off The River’. Karl Brennan was exceptional as Jerry’s best mate Dave Bukatinsky. Not only was he the perfect size (as befits the role) but he also has a fine singing voice and he portrayed the uncertainties of the character wonderfully. He has great comic timing, natural stage presence and he certainly knows how to ‘milk‘ an audience - his ad libs and asides were hilarious. Ryan Mitchell was wonderfully endearing as Malcolm MacGregor a withdrawn mother’s boy who is lacking friends and purpose and is on the verge of suicide. The scene where he is attempting to kill himself by filling his car with exhaust fumes was just so funny especially when Dave, who just happens to be passing by with Jerry, asks him if he has a cigarette and he passes one to him - out of the sun roof!! The following song ‘Big Ass Rock‘ was so bizarre but so well delivered, it was priceless. Malcolm comes on board and his practising of ‘pelvic thrusts’ had to be seen to be believed. Glyn Daniels gave a fine, dignified and convincing performance as Factory Manager Harold Nicholls. A very energetic, over the top performance came from Heath Parkin as Ethan. His numerous attempts to impress the audition panel with his ‘wall-walk’ (as in Singin’ in the Rain) saw him, several times, racing across the stage from side to side, with no success, and this was apparently, his only talent. However, when he dropped his trousers - well, the panel were more than impressed, and he was in!! A real revelation came when Steven Hayles as Noah T. Simmons (Horse) hobbled on to the stage for his audition. He soon dropped his walking stick and what followed was truly amazing. His dancing skills, his gyrations and his street dancing were phenomenal and to top it all he did the splits - what’s more, he too had a fabulous singing voice. There were some very heart-warming moments, one occurred at the funeral of Malcolm’s mother when Ethan goes over to comfort Malcolm and Malcolm beautifully and movingly sings ‘You Walk With Me’ - superb. Another was the bond that was so obvious between Jerry and his son Nathan who was confidently and charmingly played by Thomas Slater. Although this show is mainly about the men, the women were an essential element and all those in principal roles were most impressive. Georgia Thomas gave a very believable performance as Jerry’s ex-wife and as a protective and caring mum of Nathan and Danielle Kennedy was excellent as the down-to-earth, loveable wife of Dave. As Vicki Nichols, Harold’s wife, Sarah Morrell captured the two different aspects of the character splendidly. At first she was flashy, frivolous and over indulged but became an understanding and loving wife on hearing of her husband’s situation. The duet ‘You Rule My World’ that she sang with Danielle (Dave’s wife) was brilliant. Pauline Hindle was an absolute hoot as the chain-smoking, piano player and great support came from all those in the more minor roles. I must mention the role of Reg Willoughby played by Richard Leivers. I don’t think I have ever seen anything as funny as his audition to be one of the strippers. It was comic genius, the way he tripped about the stage taking off, but mostly struggling to take off, one item of clothing at a time had me in stitches - a definite highlight, without doubt. Then of course we eventually come to the moment we have all been waiting for - The Full Monty! Well, we weren’t disappointed, the six very brave ‘strippers’ strutted their stuff to ‘Let It Go’ superbly, the whole audience were shouting and screaming until..........those dazzling lights were switched on at the crucial moment! The lighting engineers had certainly done an excellent job up until then, but somebody must have flicked the wrong switch as the only happy people in the whole theatre were those six men on the stage!! A wonderful eight piece orchestra, lovely costumes, good sound and lighting, a truly magnificent, enthusiastic and splendiferous cast resulted in a fun-filled and titillating show as agreed not only by me, but also by the highly audible audience and they certainly ‘Let It Go’! Congratulations to everyone involved but especially to Karl Brennan on his first time as Director, to Choreographer Sue Higgins and to the return of Jonathan Francis as Musical Director. ‘Hats off’ to you all!!!!

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