Wales Millennium Centre – until 16th March 2019
Reviewed by Alex Browning
5*****
The Full Monty – Cheeky from start to finish
Based on the original chart-topping film Simon Beaufoy perfectly adapts the film for the stage. The Full Monty, a tale of six unemployed men from Sheffield, is set in the 1980’s on introduction to the performance is clearly prepared as the curtains open to reveal a vintage tv airing a scene-setting show. Shortly interrupted by the introduction of three of the main characters, Gary Lucy as Gaz, Fraser Kelly as Nathan and Kai Owen as Dave
The set of the show was very well executed with very little elements changing through the performance, yet still easily representing separate locations through the story. Even though this performance, for the most part, is a fantastic comedy, there is the addressing of a few important, more serious issues. Such as Joe Gill as Lomper who addresses the issues of mental health and later on the addressing of sexuality, which for the time setting of the performance is fantastically approached.
Then before act one comes to an end they have a very laughable scene involving some common garden gnomes, and then a very cheeky end to the scene. After a short interval, the show starts up in a very prompt fashion with the boys all enjoying a spot of dancing. The music through the show, and up to this point has been hit after hit, leading up to a spectacular finale song. The performance was fantastic overall, and the cast was all wonderful, even when they all change the scenery and interact with each other.
For the Grande-finale stage flipped, and the audience changed the view from onlooker to club audience, in an amazing twist we were transported to the local working men’s club, to see the buns of steel. With the intro to the song, You Can Leave Your Hat On, five of the six men enter the stage, all in fantastic costumes resembling men in uniform. The audience was encouraging to scream and shout and show all sorts of appreciation. The performance was a showstopper and left the crowd roaring. With the big ending of the show ending in all six of the men showing the real Full Monty.
Overall this was a real 5* performance leaving the whole audience in laughter and in awe of what was left to the imagination