{"id":106664,"date":"2023-09-19T06:21:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T13:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=106664"},"modified":"2023-09-19T07:05:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T14:05:42","slug":"the-full-monty-a-musical-by-terence-mcnally-at-avon-playhouse-rochester-hills-mi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/the-full-monty-a-musical-by-terence-mcnally-at-avon-playhouse-rochester-hills-mi\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe Full Monty\u201d, a Musical by Terence McNally at Avon Playhouse, Rochester Hills MI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos by Bryan Clifford<\/em><\/p>\n

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(from left) Patrick Sullivan, Nic Folson, Eric Rodman, Adam Wager, Clayton Hargrave, Matt Cason<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Naked Truth<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Based on the popular 1997 British comedy film of the same name, \u201cThe Full Monty\u201d is being presented to sold-out audiences in all its raunchy, fun-loving glory by Avon Players, now in its 76th<\/sup> season. The award-winning musical adaptation by noted American playwright Terence McNally, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, ran for almost two years on Broadway starting in 2000, and is now seen almost everywhere. The story\u2019s premise is a little skimpy (pun intended) and highly implausible. But maybe that\u2019s why it\u2019s so much fun to watch. The original movie was set in the steel mill town of Sheffield, England. In the local slang, \u201cThe Full Monty\u201d means \u201cthe whole lot\u201d…full nudity.<\/p>\n

The musical\u2019s new, Americanized setting is Buffalo NY, where a steel mill is laying everyone off, including best friends Jerry and Dave, due to hard times. If this wasn\u2019t bad enough, as luck would have it the Chippendale Dancers are performing in their town. When they see how much the local women love the Chippendales (including Dave\u2019s wife and Jerry\u2019s ex), and how much money these guys make just stripping down to their G-strings, they get the idea to form their own striptease act with four other out-of-work men. They even consult with one of the Chippendales, a hunky guy named Keno, played by the amazing Matt Druminski<\/strong>. (Warning: He opens the show with a bang, by stripping down to his bare…well, let’s leave something to the imagination.) Jerry and Dave need to beat the Chippendales at their own game, so their act (called Hot Metal), will come with a daring, naughty twist. They will bare all \u2013 The Full Monty.\u00a0 What could possibly go wrong? These are just ordinary guys, after all. Some of them start to lose their nerve, especially when they confront their own \u201cshortcomings\u201d. The real fun starts as they recruit, then train and finally rehearse their act, with hysterical results.<\/p>\n

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Eric Rodman, Robby Carrigan<\/p><\/div>\n

The ten-piece orchestra, led by Ron Pietrantoni<\/strong>, plays some splendid jazz, rock, and lovely ballads to accompany the enjoyable cast. Leading the way is Eric Rodman<\/strong>, who really shines as Jerry, especially with his vocal in the touching \u201cBreeze off the River\u201d. His ex-wife Pam (Lia DiFonzo<\/strong>) is breaking his heart over his desire to see his 12-year-old son, Nathan (Robby Carrigan<\/strong>). Clay Hargrave<\/strong> as Jerry\u2019s best bud Dave offers another sympathetic character. He\u2019s incredibly unsure of himself and his relationship with his wife, the vivacious Georgie, played with energetic charm by Emily Brown<\/strong>. She and her girlfriends relish their new-found independence in the number \u201cIt\u2019s a Woman\u2019s World\u201d (with Caroline Dargay, Joy Oetjens <\/strong>and Pamela Plewa<\/strong>). While the whole cast is great, standouts include Nic Folson<\/strong> as Horse, with his excellent voice and dance moves in \u201cBig Black Man\u201d; Adam Wager<\/strong> as the goofy Ethan; nimble-footed Patrick Sullivan<\/strong> as Malcolm; and the tall and gorgeous Caroline Dargay<\/strong> as Estelle\/Ensemble. Plus a special shout-out to the dynamic Lori Smith<\/strong> as Vicki. She shows real star power whenever she\u2019s onstage, especially in the jazzy bossa nova number \u201cLife With Harold\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Lori Smith, Matt Cason<\/p><\/div>\n

Some of the vocals can be somewhat uneven, and the story, for the most part, resembles a typical sitcom. But it displays unexpected depth in a number of ways, addressing the issues of suicide, depression, and same-sex attraction. It also turns traditional gender roles upside-down. We see female empowerment: ladies can earn their own living, be independent, and can see men as sex objects, too. We see male vulnerability: needing the approval of their mates, disappointment in their own bodies, and feeling despair at the loss of their traditional role as providers. But at the end of the day, it proves one thing – that even ordinary guys can be sexy.<\/p>\n

Director John \u201cJD\u201d Deierlein<\/strong> handles the comedy, musical numbers, and the more sensitive moments with flair, but his strategic lighting at the end of the show really shows his skill \u2013 and timing. A fraction of a second too late, and we really would see \u201cThe Full Monty\u201d. It\u2019s lots of laughs, lots of fun, and really worth seeing \u2013 especially for Ladies Night Out.<\/p>\n

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Joy Oetjens, Caroline Dargay, Eric Rodman<\/p><\/div>\n

Note: Due to frequent flashes of male nudity, this show is recommended for mature audiences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now through September 30, 2023 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $26.50 at box office, $3.50 fee online, $2.00 fee for phone order<\/strong><\/p>\n

Avon Playhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n

1185 Washington Rd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rochester Hills, MI 48306<\/strong><\/p>\n

(248) 608-9077 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0www.avonplayers.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-106664","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"