Blackpool Winter Gardens – until Saturday 9 December 2023
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
Simon Beaufoy’s award winning play based on the Fox Searchlight Motion Picture The Full Monty can be seen at the Blackpool Winter Gardens Opera House until Saturday 09th December 2023.
This is a show full of warmth, comedy and touching moments that entertained the audience from start to finish. You will also get the opportunity to see more of this cast than I have ever seen in any other show so get down there to see what I mean.
The Full Monty is a story about a group of men from Yorkshire in the 1990’s who are out of work and struggling to keep their heads above water. They are an unlikely mix of characters who get together to be the next ‘Chippendales’ in their local city of Sheffield.
The delightful rogue Gaz, the ringleader of the group is struggling to support his son Nathan financially which has meant issues arising with his visitation rights. Whilst out with his lifelong friend Dave, they come across a one night only event of the Chippendales at the fictitious ‘Millthorpe Working Men’s Club’ where they learn how much money can be made so an idea begins to form for Gaz.
The group of strippers he puts together consists of himself and Dave along with Lomper a security guard whom they come across whilst trying to commit suicide, Gerald their former foreman from the steelworks and from an open audition, Horse an older man but with the dance moves and Guy with the necessary attributes joins the group to make six.
Each person has their own individual issues including mental health, broken relationships, lack of self-confidence and a shared hatred of life on the unemployment line, however Gaz takes them on a whirlwind adventure with which helps them to meet head on and overcome these issues.
The casting for this show by Marc Frankum CDG is without a doubt an excellent choice with such a dynamic set of men, Danny Hatchard (Gaz), Neil Hurst (Dave), Bill Ward (Gerald), Jake Quickenden (Guy), Nicholas Prasad (Lomper) and Ben Onwukwe (Horse) who work well together making it look so easy to get up there on stage and reveal more of themselves, not just figuratively speaking.
Thanks, are also due to the rest of the cast, especially Cass Dempsey who played Gaz’s son Nathan. What talent this young actor has and such a pleasure to see on stage.
Special thanks also go to Jasmine Swan for the authentic costumes and such an adaptable set, Chris Whybrow for sound design which included nostalgic tracks form the era, Andrew Exeter for lighting design and not too be forgotten Michael Gyngell the director.
For me, The Full Monty was a show full of determination and laughter and just a feel-good time and ended with a finale like no other, did they keep their hats on?