3-D Theatricals of Orange County presents, “The Full Monty,” one of Broadway’s most hilarious, yet truly touching family musicals, directed by T.J. Dawson, the executive producer and artistic director of 3-D Theatricals. Music is under the direction of conductor Corey Hirsch.
The American stage musical, with book by Terrance McNally and score by David Yazbek, recounts a tale that takes place in Buffalo, N.Y., which is besieged with men being laid off from the steel factories. Most men cannot find work to support their families. It centers on six men, depressed and defeated by their unemployment, loss of identity and inability to provide for their families, who come up with the outrageous idea of putting on a strip act after seeing the local women’s wild enthusiasm for a company of touring Chippendales dancers when they appear in a local club.
Short on time and with little talent or physical appeal, the gang promises their show will be better because they’ll go “the full monty” and bare it all! The musical takes us through the audition process and rehearsals for the big night during which they work through their fears, self-consciousness, feelings of worthlessness and anxieties which, in turn, leads them to discover that not only are they stronger as a group, but that the strength they find in each other gives them the individual courage to face their personal demons and overcome them.
The instigator of the plan to perform such a show is Jerry Lukowski (Allen Everman), a man struggling through the aftermath of his divorce and the possibility of losing his right to be with his son Nathan (Dante Marenco) due to non-payment of child support. His good friend and fellow laid off steel worker Dave Bukatinsky (Matthew Downs) has been drowning his sorrows with food, and his big Teddy Bear personality and resulting fear of being laughed off the stage, almost cause him to give up.
The actors wonderfully show us the support these two friends have for each other as well as their deep-seated fear of failure yet again.
After auditions, the two men are joined in their dancing endeavor by Malcolm MacGregor (Tyler Miclean), Ethan Girard (Nick Waaland), and Noah “The Horse” T. Simmons (Rovin Jay), who sings his need to prove what all women believe to be true about a “Big Black Man.” Led by local dance instructor Harold Nichols (David Engel) who has been drafted to teach the men to dance, the riotous process of learning to move as a group and disrobe without fear create many comic, touching, and wonderfully human interactions expressed through song and dance, especially the Act I finale “Michael Jordan’s Ball” in which they set their dancing to an imaginary basketball game.
And what about their long-suffering wives? We first meet them in the men’s room at the Chippendales show, complaining about their men – who just happen to be hiding in one of the stalls, thinking no women would ever dare to be there. Jerry’s wife Pam (Lauren Decierdo) and Dave’s wife Georgie (Jeanette Dawson) allow us to see their side of the story, frustrated with their stalled lives and status of their relationships. Their ladies group song “It’s a Woman’s World” definitely gets you in the mood for the power struggle brewing to a boil.
We later meet Nichols’ money-hungry wife Vicki (Janna Cardia) as they dance up a storm in the studio where he teaches at night. He agrees to assist the men in their pursuit, all the while complaining how he feels the need to keep providing the best for his loving wife, especially since she is unaware he has been out of work for six months. Their dance number “Life With Harold” is well-choreographed by Leslie Stevens and thoroughly entertaining.
A true cast standout in her every scene is Candi Milo who portrays the no-nonsense retried pianist Jeanette Burmeister who accompanies the men and gives them a few lessons on how to make their act succeed. Her total physicality in the role brings Jeanette fully to life, letting us laugh at the crazy character she has become after working with actors for so long, most notably expressed during “Jeanette’s Showbiz Number.”
Many thanks to Justin Berti for treating us to the Chippendale dance routine that starts the show and gets you ready to scream and shout throughout the production. This is definitely a show that succeeds in encouraging the audience to “Let It Go” and voice your appreciation of the men onstage!
THE FULL MONTY by 3-D Theatricals opened at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and continues through May 8 at the historic Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. Tickets are $25 to $95. Online Ticketing and show information can be found at www.3dtshows.com. Group and Student discounts are available; $20 “Rush” tickets are available one hour prior to “select performances.” Box Office contact at 714 589-2770, Ext. 1. And look for their next big Broadway-quality musical “Hello Dolly” opening July 15 through Aug. 1.