Play Review: The Full Monty well done

HELEN JEWETT/play reviewer

I’m not going to see that! Sound familiar? Well, I’m 80 and I went to The Full Monty, Van Wert Civic Theatre’s latest production. When I read it, it gave me pause. Then I saw it, and you know what?  It’s good! No, it’s better than good; it’s hilarious.

The set surprised me because it seemed sort of “stark”, but it cleverly became the basis for several different scenes, including the union hall, a strip club, a bathroom, a bedroom, and so on.

The story is something we can all relate to here in northwest Ohio: A plant in Buffalo, N.Y., has closed down, leaving many men jobless. It has been months since they’ve worked and the men feel emasculated. Their wives and girlfriends work and seem to have plenty of money. These men want – no, they need – jobs.

Jerry is afraid his ex-wife will take his son, and his friend Dave is depressed because he’s becoming a house husband. Malcolm desperately wants to move out of his mother’s house, and Harold is afraid his expensive wife will dump him. You can feel the despair, as there seems to be no work available.  It’s been months!

Then Jerry has an idea. The Chippendales working at a local club earn a bundle of money for one night’s work. What if “real” men like Jerry and his friends were to try the stripping. Wow, it would be great for all of them. They would make some much-needed money and they all would have a job, at least for a night or so. So these clumsy, out of shape men pick up a couple of other guys to join them, and the new guys are just as clumsy and out of shape. However, they each have something the others don’t have. One is an African-American, and one is, shall we say, rather well endowed. Jerry and his friends truly believe they cannot lose!

After a couple of weeks of practice they are going to perform in front of a lot of women. As the time draws near, they find, though, that the women in their lives are all not planning to attend, since the guys are not “Chippendale quality.” They know they need something else to sell tickets and they find it: The Full Monty!

You have to come and watch these determined, men and their wonderful women trying to sort out their lives. The cast, both men and women, is great, headed up by the six would-be strippers: Bob Howell (Jerry); Dan

Basinger (Dave); Jerry Zimmerman (Harold); Chris Butturff (Malcolm); Len Archibald (Horse); and Roger Rex (Ethan). The women in their lives include Amy Boley (Pam); Debbie Briggs (Vicki); Amber Rowe (Georgie); Julie Kerr (Joanie/Jeanette); Sarita Ashley Shank (Estelle); Sandy Nagy (Susan); and Sarah Bennett (Molly/Delores).

Supporting roles include Chase Van Fleet (Nathan), Larry Keltner (Teddy), Mike Hunter (Keno), Jon Hodges (Reg), Anner Diaz (Gary/Tony), Joe Maurer (Randy/Marty), and Gary Pace (Repo Man).

The cast is to be congratulated on braving the snowy December and January weather to come to rehearsals from all over the area (some as far away as Shelby County).

And you’ll really enjoy the REAL LIVE orchestra! Dee Fisher directs the seven-piece combo that includes she and Warnement on keyboards, Rick Lee on saxophone; Bo Williams on cello, Lou Balyeat on guitar and Rod Sroufe on bass. Together, they give musical support to the great voices in the cast.

The whole production is directed by Linda McClure, who has performed in VWCT’s pits many times. Choreography is provided by Zimmerman, Brittanya Poe, and Boley. Together, the VWCT team has put together a winner.

Tickets are still available by calling 419.238.9689, Monday through Friday, between 2 and 6 p.m. and also an hour before each performance. After the opening on January 27, performances continue tonight, January 29-30 and February 2-6 and 9-12. All performances are at 8 p.m., except Sunday matinees, which are at 2 in the afternoon.