I was very excited about seeing the stage adaptation of ‘Full Monty’ as I remember seeing the film during my teens in 1997, and then buying a video shortly afterwards! It is the type of feel-good film with a gripping plot that can be watched again and again due to its strong comedy value. At times, it was difficult not to compare the film with the stage adaptation, a common encounter when one medium is transferred to another very different one. But overall this performance originally produced at Sheffield Theatres did not disappoint.
The smash hit film portrayed six steelworkers in Sheffield who had lost their jobs, and how they devise a way to find a way out of drudgery. The idea of stripping provides an avenue for earning money and hope in the midst of heartbreak. As their plan unfolds, we see a comical and heartfelt friendship developing between them. The story is still relevant in this period of austerity, and shows how a positive and innovative approach can prove life-changing when things don’t work out as planned. Powerful themes such as suicide, appearance and poverty are explored side by side with humour throughout, which is the main strength of the narrative. In the face of desperation and unemployment, individuals from different backgrounds come together to fight adversity, showing how hardship can be overcome. One of the main characters has a child, and we come to understand how losing a job can affect parent rights and access, a scenario that many face today. The relationship between father and son is both moving and funny.
Simon Beaufoy, an Oscar-winning writer, adapted the film for the stage, and managed to convey emotion coupled with hilarious scenes. The balance between light-hearted humour and addressing very potent matters is achieved successfully. Some elements had changed from the film, and I am unsure of the reason for this. However, it did not seem to impact negatively on the story or complement anything in particular. Enough aspects were retained in order to remind me of the narrative, and key aspects were not done away with so it became unrecognizable.
The scenes were fast-paced and flowed effortlessly throughout the performance, holding onto a cinematic flavour with short cameos. The dialogue made me laugh out loud at times, and was both witty and indicative of a more serious context. The actors Gary Lucy, Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Chris Founatin, Anthony Lewis and Kai Owen did a good job overall. Lucy, Owen and Fountain stood out for me. They managed to portray the intended differences between the characters and their own battles. At times, it was more difficult to empathise with them and see their facial expression as the theatre medium did not allow close-ups, but they made up for this with the dance and the exaggerated physical element. The vibrant choreography was memorable, and Ian West should be congratulated for devising moves that would fit a small space on stage. I also missed some sentences as the dialogue was not always clear due to their accents.
Kai Owen
The special effects were crucial to the production, and better use was made of them in comparison to the film. Lighting was used effectively in a dazzling array of techniques, and the music supplemented the action on stage. I also remember buying the soundtrack, and I would have welcomed more use of musical resources as it created such an uplifting and rhythmic atmosphere. However, the story itself was more than enough to grapple with and entertain. The scenes were both lively and action-packed.
The ending was cleverly done, and the lighting effects prevented the audience from seeing too much! It’s safe to say that sparks were flying, and it was a fitting ending to pure entertainment. The theatre was jam-packed (mostly female). It would be a fun girls night out, but there are also an abundance of jokes and comedy to make the men laugh too! It was nice to see so many laughing as a number of plays deal with dark themes, but this production shows that you can be upbeat in even dire circumstances. Beware, the sign on the door states, ‘the performance contains nudity’!