Hilarious and occasionally harrowing. The Full Monty: The Musical explores important themes that feel even more relevant today than they did in 1997.
Opening night for The Full Monty is on a Wednesday at Joseph Rowntree Theatre but it feels just like a Friday. Excited women are filling the seats, with a healthy littering of men in between. A local old folks home have chosen this as their theatre trip out. I honestly can’t wait to see reactions when it gets to the actual ‘full monty’.
The musical stage adaptation mirrors the film plot accurately but relocates all the way to Buffalo, NY. Six recently unemployed steelworkers who are low on cash, decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives’ enthusiasm for a group of touring Chippendales.
Jerry, decides that the unique selling point for the show is that the ex-steelworkers will go “the full monty”. While the group prepare for the show, they end up working through their problems, fears and anxieties, and come out of the other side for a grand finale.
When it comes to The Full Monty people remember the dicks and the laughs, but they forget all of the important questions it asks throughout. I, myself, was mostly concerned with how many naked men I would be seeing tonight, and boy, yes, you do get to see that. At the start, in between and at the end. Basically, A LOT. But in between the humour and nudity, there’s a stark contrast of poverty, body image and sexuality. It’s as relevant today as it was in 1997.
The Bev Jones Musical Company cast and directors work expertly through it all, pulling the audience up to fits of giggles, and all the way back down to quiet contemplation, with complete and utter ease.
Curtains go up and we’re pulled straight into the Chippendale show by a sassy female compere who also plays the wife (Kelly Ann Bolland) of fellow steelworker Dave (Chris Hagyard).
It’s not long until screams come from both the cast and audience. We’ve been transported into a full on strip show: baby oil, pull ups, the full shebang.
It might come across as acutely lazy to say this, but it’s true: the whole cast can sing, and sing well. There isn’t a bad song, barely a note missed and the live band work nimbly through the gorgeous jazzy numbers. Highlights include Vicki’s (Claire Brooks) vibrant performance of Life With Harold, Jeanette’s (Clare Meadley) Showbiz Number and Malcolm (Steven Jobson) and Ethan’s duet in You Walk with Me – honestly the harmony in this is divine. Our lead guy, Jerry (Matthew Clarke) is a neat singer, colouring in the musical lines with precision, but I wanted to see a bit less vocal tidiness from a such well-played character with an emotional backstory.
Laughs come thick and fast throughout, and mostly belong to Jerry’s best mate, Dave, and fellow stripper, Horse (Reggie Challenger), the elderly fellow who’s nickname does not precede him.
The choreography is ambitious, sprinkled with chairs and basketballs, but practice has made perfect for this well rehearsed cast. There’s one close shave in the finale that adds to the authenticity of everyday blokes becoming strippers. In fact: I’m still toying with the idea that it was intentional. You probably want to know if you actually get to see the ‘full monty’? I couldn’t possibly say: you’ll have to buy tickets and find out.
Set changes are so smooth that I’m surprised when I finally notice them and the actors bring objects on stage so naturally that none of the audience bat an eyelid. In terms of sound, whispers can be heard from backstage when a mic doesn’t get turned down in time, but we can forgive that on opening night.
The whole performance glides from intimate to emotional, hilarious and sexy in the crack of a whip. The Full Monty stands the test of time as an important, relevant and uplifting story that’s been brought to life superbly by this team.
There’s been a hell of a lot of hard work gone into this. The Bev Jones Musical Company are seriously pushing up the bar for Amateur Theatre everywhere.
Buy tickets here: https://www.josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/eventids/1128
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