Review: The Full Monty (Touring)

Tuesday, 17th October 2023 at the Grand Theatre and Opera House, York.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Simon Beaufoy’s award-winning play is back out on tour and the latest cast are bringing plenty of wise-cracking and hip-shimmying to the masses in this tale of, er, thinking outside the box when faced with long-term unemployment. While this show, based on the famous 1997 movie, is known for its comedy and cheeky fun, it’s not exactly all fun and games, and there are solid, developed plot lines giving the show a secure narrative footing too.

It’s 90’s Sheffield, the steelworks has shut and the working men are out on their ear looking for work. It’s this financial pressure and family frictions (or trying to avoid them) which ultimately leads to the wise idea of following the lead of the Chippendales and becoming male strippers. We follow Gaz, a skilled worker helplessly out of work, facing heat from his ex (Laura Matthews) after a stint of paying no child support. Danny Hatchard does well to move between silliness and sentiment and Michael Gyngell’s direction finds the balance beautifully. Gaz’s story is helped along nicely by his adorable young son and gaggle of mates in turn. In fact, Theo Hills almost steals the show all by himself as the son, offering a classic case of a kid with his head screwed on who wouldn’t be out of place propped up at the bar, truth-tellin’ to the drunks with comic exasperation.

But who would Gaz be, alone on stage in his keks with no back-up? He’s joined by the very amiable Dave (Neil Hurst) as his partner in crime and cutting comedy, old-but-not-quite-past-it-yet Horse (Ben Onwukwe), troubled and quirky Lomper (Nicholas Prasad), the extremely confident Guy (Jake Quickenden) and somewhat reluctantly, the upright but not irrevocably uptight Gerald (Bill Ward). They all provide their own brand of comedy and the banter between them moves easily between pre-pubescent pranks and alpha male chest-puffing. It’s Ward and Hurst who join Hatchard in offering the most heart in the piece though, while the fearless Quickenden and Hills pave the way for good laughs.

The gang go to town with Ian West’s choreography – smirking and gurning all the while, showing that this cast know exactly how to get an audience hooting and cackling. Jasmine Swan’s set is cleverly multi-functional but causes some delays as set pieces are shifted in the dark; often fine as a segue, but with such pacy, short scenes, the segues really could do with being snappier to maintain the momentum – though Chris Whybrow’s sound design works well to mask the interruptions with irresistible toe-tappers of the 80’s and 90’s.

As ever, and as the sounds of a very happy audience having a great night out can attest, The Full Monty delivers on laughs, silliness and great music, but also delivers a good dose of sentiment along the way.

The Full Monty is at The Grand Theatre and Opera House, York until October 21st 2023 – more information and tickets can be found here. The show then continues to tour until April 2024 – more information and tickets can be found here.