Review by: Paul Towers, 19 April 2016
The Full Monty by David Yazbek & Terence McNally
Leicester Operatic Players production
Little Theatre 19 – 23rd April 2016
“pray for a lighting malfunction.”
The Full Monty at Leicester’s Little Theatre is not the same as the production currently
touring and due to return to DeMontfort Hall in March 2017. This is the short
lived US version reworked (again) for the UK audience which ran for two years
on Broadway but only managed 8 months in the West End. While the story closely
follows the original film it has been padded out with 14 new songs, most of
which add nothing to the story and a couple are completely misplaced. One, Big
Black Man, is sung by the character called Horse but, in this production, is played
by an actor owing more to Bernard Breslaw than Frank Bruno! Another, Jeanette's
Showbiz Number, is sung in an American accent and sounds to be more appropriate
to Hairspray!
While the dialogue is filled with one liners and lots of
funny business the show does not work as a musical. Far better would have been
to revert to using the pre-recorded numbers from the film, as the current
touring version does. Another cause for disappointment was that some of the iconic
scenes had been either deleted or relocated. For instance the trademark scene
in the job centre where the guys are lined up and unconsciously go into their
dance routine is now transferred to a funeral! Ludicrous!.
Whatever the shortcomings of the show itself the cast could
not be faulted. Despite one moment when a cast member dried (possibly due to
his having taken over the role at short notice) they were as professional as
any commercial show. The on stage chemistry between Chris Cooper-Hayes (Jerry)
and Neil Prior (Dave) was palpable. Occasionally the onstage orchestra was a
little overpowering but that will sort itself out as the week progresses.
Finally, there was a slight lighting cue malfunction and the
assembled audience had very bright confirmation that the cast had, indeed,
given the Full Monty!
First published on Western Gazette
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