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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
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Many of us have seen the Full Monty movie, where several out of work steel workers decide to cash in on getting their kit off, after seeing some ladies going crazy over the Chippendales. The story of these steel workers has been under rated, especially poignant in today’s financial situation across the country, with so many people working for companies who are discussing redundancies. Perhaps times are not so different from the manufacturing industry massacre of the 1980s.
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Unfortunately much of the audience seemed to be tipsy ladies wanting to scream at scantily clad men, and a bit oblivious to the parallels between the long standing story and today’s situation. We are more conscious now of men’s mental health issues but this story includes many of the struggles men face, not just in being made redundant but: having to maintain the wife’s social standing; having no friends and seeing no point in living; feeling completely ashamed of yourself for being “on the cuddly side”; or the trials and tribulations of being a father when you are separated from the mother and made some bad life choices. The advertising blurb for this play offers “a hot man for everyone”, which caused hilarity in our family Whatsapp group as I was going with my brother in law, but actually more importantly there is a story line for everyone. We have all faced the hardships of life and can all learn from each other, and from the characters in this story. The theme of friendship between men runs through and the power that friendship can bring to a group, helping them achieve the almost unbelievable.
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Simon Beaufoy has done a fantastic job of translating the well known film into a stage play. This production has amazing staging, the steel work set twists and turns to become the varied backgrounds needed for the job centre, the Conservative club, the back of the pub. Looking like it was made of steel it keeps the origin of the story feeding through the whole play. As for the hanging scene, it was very realistic and had me gasping for breath myself. Nicholas Prasad was playing poor Lomper who was struggling to find his purpose, although ironically he was the one with a job at the start of the play albeit as an unfulfilling security guard.
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The main actors all filled their roles perfectly, always difficult when the roles are well known from a film. The young boy playing Nathan, Rowan Poulton, was outstanding and deserved a standing ovation of his own. It really is a big part for someone so young but his talk to his Dad just before the show at the end of the play was perfectly delivered. Danny Hatchard played his Dad, Gaz and really pulled you through the emotions he experienced. Neil Hurst played the best friend and fellow crane operator Dave and almost had me thinking he was the actor from the film he was so perfect. Bill Ward was the older, supervisor come dance instructor Gerald, and probably the most surprising when the clothes came off! Ben Onwukwe added to the glorious cross section of mankind by playing the older Horse and it was fabulous to see him transform from the old man complaining about his hip, to the hip shaking stripper! Last to join the line up was Jake Quickenden who played the gym loving gay character Guy, and seemed to get the most cheers from the audience.
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This is the ultimate feelgood night out and well worth the resulting ear worms of Hot Chocolate and Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff!
Further information: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/the-full-monty/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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