[NEOPAL]Berko review: THE FULL MONTY (Beck)

[Roy Berko]

‘FULL MONTY’ IS FUN AT BECK

Roy Berko
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

A woman bounds onto the stage.  It’s Girls’ Night out.
 She introduces us to the featured attraction of the
evening, the very handsome Buddy "Keno" Walsh (Rob
Mayes), who is dressed in a business suit, though not
for long.  The buff Mayes is soon down to a yellow
G-string and accepting screams and dollar bills from
the women in the audience. 

Thus, we are introduced to the world of ‘THE FULL
MONTY,’ now on stage at the Beck Center.  It’s a tale
of six unemployed steel workers who, out of
desperation for money and respect, form a male
striptease troupe.  

Written by Terrance McNally and David Yazbek, the
stage musical is based on the 1977 hit British movie
of the same name but moves the characters to Buffalo,
N.Y.  Once the shenanigans start, the only question is
whether the anything-but-buff sextet will wind up
doing a full monty, the British term for strippers who
take it all off.

With the steel plant closed, a meeting is held at the
union hall to distribute the last of the pay checks. 
We meet Jerry Lukowski, who is months behind in his
child payments and faces the prospect of no
visitations with his 12-year old son.  His best
friend, extremely overweight Dave Bukatinsky, now a
stay-at-home husband with only a security job at
Walmart as a potential way out, is also desperate. 
Then there is Malcolm MacGregor, who lives alone with
his infirm mother.  They all feel like “Scrap,”
ironically the show’s first song.

Waiting at the bus stop,  the guys overhear two women
excitedly going into a club, paying $50 to see Keno
strip.  An idea hatches.  If he and Dave--real
men--were to strip, they could clean up.  He talks
four oher reluctant guys into going along with his
scheme.  Tickets don’t sell well, and when asked by
some women why, after having seen "the real thing",
they would want to see a bunch of amateur local guys
strip.  Jerry quickly says, much to the shock and
disbelief of the guys, "We're different - we go all
the way..the full monty.”  The only question left for
the audience is, “Will they really go all the way?”

Now, it wouldn’t be fair to reveal the answer, but I
will say that at the end of the show there are six
guys on stage and we learn that the full monty isn't
just about showing off the outside, it's about what
all of us have on the inside.

Beck’s production is amusing, even delightful in
spots, but not totally polished.  The cast is uneven
in their acting and singing abilities.  

Lenne Snively nearly steals the show as the elder
pianist, whose wise-cracks add much to the goings-ons.
 She nails the role of Jeanettte, though after a while
one would wish she’d lose the overused cigarette prop.
 She is matched as an audience favorite by Kris Hebble
who is endearing as the very over-weight Dave. 
Watching Kris strip is a comedy show in and of itself.
 

Keith Faris (Dave) develops a clear character and when
the songs he is rendering are in his pitch range he is
quite good.  Unfortunately, when he forces his voice,
he loses the top register.  

If Rob Mayes isn’t a professional Chippendale guy he
should be.  This boy knows how to strip, and has the
looks and body to make it convincing.  Patrick Janson
is properly appealing as, Malcolm the mommy’s boy, who
finds love unexpectedly in the form of Tim Hirzel
(Ethan).  The matched set are so skinny that when they
turn side-ways, they disappear.  They are yet another
sight of the sights to behold in the final strip
number.

Nicki Stacey (Georgie) and Maggie Stahl (Vicki) as two
of the harried wives, sing well and develop clear
characterizations.  Their “You  Rule My World
(Reprise)” is excellent.  Elliott Hooper (Horse) is
delightful.  His “Big Black Man” is a show-stopper.

The orchestra, under the direction of Larry Goodpaster
is excellent, backing up rather than drowning out the
singers.

As always, Martin Cespedes’s choreography is creative.
 The highlights were the moves to “Michael Jordan’s
Ball.”  

Song high points included, “It’s a Woman’s World,”
“Big Ass Rock,” and “Jeannette’s Showbiz Number.”

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   ‘THE FULL MONTY’ isn’t a great
musical, but it is a lot of fun.  If you are a prude,
you might be shocked by some of the language, and the
sight of some male nudity.  Others should really enjoy
themselves.

‘THE FULL MONTY’ runs through April 9 at The Beck
Center for the Arts in Lakewood.  For ticket
information call 216-521-2540.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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