I usually join in with a standing ovation slightly resentfully, but as soon as Danny Hatchard, Jake Quickenden, Bill Ward, Neil Hurst, Ben Onwukwe, and Nicholas Prasad came to the stage to bow I couldn't help but leap to my feet. The Full Monty was one of the most joyous productions I have ever seen, and had it started again immediately after it finished, I would have happily watched it again.
Each character was fully-rounded, believable, and relatable – we all know these men, they are our fathers, brothers, co-workers, friends – and the actors' comedic timing was impeccable throughout. It can be hard for female performers to prompt the same level of laughs as the men in male-focussed stories, but Katy Dean as Jean shone. Theo Hills as Nathan fit right in. So often child actors stick out as novices among the cast, and audiences hold their breath as they say their lines in case something goes wrong, or – worse – nauseatingly ‘aww’ at every line they say. Hills was very likeable, and that is the highest (and rarest) praise I can give a child actor.
Jasmine Swan’s set design for this production elevated it to new heights, and the modular set fit together seamlessly to create each of the settings. Seeing how the set would transform in each scene was as exciting as seeing what was next for the characters. The set greatly added to the sense of community in this play, moved by characters in between scenes. The choice to keep the Sheffield skyline as the consistent backdrop, and the use of 80s hits during transitions all rooted us firmly in our location and time-period.
Voice FM interviewed Bill Ward (in the role of Gerald) ahead of the opening of The Full Monty, and he spoke about how this isn’t really a play about stripping, but rather a play about the reasons why they have to strip. The Full Monty is a love-letter to masculinity, the unbreakable love of fathers for their sons, and the importance of fraternity. The men in this play are funny and loyal and proud, and in a world with so much toxic masculinity broadcast across the internet, where young men question their place in society, this tour is a remedy and a reminder of what men can find solace in.
Besides being genuinely funny, this play had moments where I held my breath and even at one point shed a tear. This production garnered such a sense of joy in the audience that the energy was electric. In the interval you felt like you could turn around and talk to strangers about what you’d just seen. The Full Monty perfectly demonstrated the power of theatre to unify us. At the final blackout I couldn’t hold back my cheers. Both halves were ended at the exact right moment, leaving the audience beaming. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a good time at a production at the Mayflower.
This production didn’t feel like a tired rehashing of the 1997 film, it stands completely on its own merit and Simon Beaufoy’s genius is in every line. I would urge anyone to go see and The Full Monty.
Verity Babbs is the host of Voice FM's 'Arts & Culture Show' on Wednesdays at 2PM
www.veritybabbs.com
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