The Full Monty

It has to be said that this show’s attraction to put ‘bums on seats’, so very obviously lies in anticipation of the finale’s ‘bums on view’! All well and good, but it is to be remembered that the story, which is fairly true to the 90’s British film, does hold much more meatiness, being actually very heart-warming and funny underneath the myriad of frequently seen males in a state of undress!

Unlike some other productions, sound balance was nigh on perfect, the score was expertly played with keenness by an orchestra that were tight as a drum and a pure pleasure to listen to. Vocal performances brought some beautiful moments which included a very emotive ‘You Rule My World’ sung by Dave and Harold and a touching, heart-warming ‘You Walk With Me’ performed by Malcolm and Ethan, which may not have been the most musically accurate sung song in the show, but importantly, brought to life a far-reaching impression of tenderness that touched the soul.

The team of assorted, ‘L’ plate strippers were led by likeable, ‘Jack the lad’ Jerry Lukowski and the deeper Dave Bukatinsky played by Ian Crew, who displayed an unswerving depth of character, nicely balanced with a sense of subtle humour. All six principal men were able to give (and show) all that was necessary without any weak links! Chorus numbers were well rehearsed, showing an abundance of energy, confidence and excellent musicality, particularly demonstrated in the ‘Michael Jordan’s Ball’ number. Action merged seamlessly into vocal introductions, showing evidence of precise preparation.

Ladies were not to be outdone, all being equally on par with the gents. Silvey Webber constantly livened up the stage with her forthright yet sensitive portrayal of Georgie. As displayed within the other relationships, she and Dave, despite all, were seen to be convincingly believeable as a perfect fit.

Set design was imaginative while appearing unfussy, with trucks and back projection providing perfect proportion for stage size and cast movement. Its management was incredibly slick with scene changes barely noticeable, ensuring constant pace was maintained.

This production did not disappoint, the finale fulfilled all expectations with principals giving their all, to end with a bang. The audience response confirmed they had lapped up every bit!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.