For those of you not acquainted with the phrase “The Full Monty”, let me educate you. It either refers to the full mount expected, desired or possible OR a striptease involving full nudity especially by a man. I think you can guess which definition applies to the Forestburgh Playhouse production! “The Full Monty” was originally a very successful British film that came out in 1997. This musical hit Broadway in 2000 and ran into 2002. 

The movie was set in Sheffield, a town in Northern England. The musical brings the story across the ocean to America and sets it in working class Buffalo, NY. The plot is the same. A group of six men, four of whom are recently unemployed steel workers, decide to do their own male striptease act in order to make some money. The idea comes to Jerry (played by Shawn William Smith) when he witnesses droves of women spending top dollars to watch “Chippendale” type dancers at a local club. Jerry reaches out to his unemployed buddies who are obviously far from Chippendale type dancers. The fun ensues as they try to create an act, have auditions for more talent and ultimately promise that they will be going for the full monty unlike traditional dancers. 

This show relies heavily on ensemble cohesion. The women’s group, comprised of wives and local gals, and the men’s group. The two groups appear together and have a great combined group number called “The Goods” where male/female stereotypes are dissected and exposed for what they are. Each group appears to have a kind of leader. The girls have Georgie played by Heather Jane Rollf. She is the wife of a steelworker (Dave) and has a brashy and bold routine early in the show called “It’s a Woman’s World”. Ms. Rollf poignantly portrays a tough neighborhood girl who senses a drifting apart with her husband. Nicole Zelka is Vicki, the steelworker supervisor Harold’s wife. Ms. Zelka sashays and swings her way around the stage to a lively “Life With Harold” dance sequence. Outside of the ladies group there is Jeanette (Carol MacAdam) who finds herself piano accompanying this ragtag group of wannabe misfit male dancers. Ms. MacAdam is quite comical with her quips and one-liners about her ancient history in musical showbiz. 

The storyline delves a bit deeper into the individual lives of the men. Jerry (Shawn William Smith) comes up with the idea and enlists his best friend Dave (Robert Anthony Jones). Jerry’s trying to pay the bills so that he can retain partial custody of his son. Overweight Dave has a hard time imagining himself being a part of this act and wrestles with self image, embarrassment and the relationship with his wife. The chemistry between the two is strong and comes across genuine. Mr. Jones has a wonderful ability to switch from sidesplitting humor to tender introspective emotions. Mr. Jones and Chuck Ragsdale who plays Harold the supervisor share a beautiful number crooning to their sleeping wives in “You Rule My World.” 

The team further enlists the talents of steelworker Malcolm (Joshua Thompson) who lives a lonely life with his aging mother. Mr. Thompson may very well vocally outshine the rest of the boys in his rendition of “You Walk With Me.” In their search for more talent, the boys meet an aging African American steelworker named Horse (Lee Palmer). Mr. Palmer gives one of the evening’s most enjoyable experiences in his “Big Black Man.” Jake Bieniewicz as Ethan seems an unlikely untalented addition to the group, but does have one gift he is endowed with that lands him a spot on the team. Mr. Bieniewicz is the physical comic of the group and can certainly surprise! And young Cayden Keesler plays Jerry’s 12 year old son Nathan. Young Mr. Keesler does a very nice job as a boy torn between Mom and Dad. The entire ensemble of this production deserves kudos for their work.

Director/Choreographer Anthony C. Daniels certainly has his hands full with this large cast show that bounces from dance clubs to bathrooms to bedrooms to steel factories, and he gets it done with flair and sincerity. There are a lot of moving parts to Maggie Jackson’s set design. It all works well even though a few of the scene changes were a little clunky and not as smooth as they could be. But I’m sure that is just opening night logistics that will work themselves out. 

“The Full Monty” is a lot of fun. And all throughout we can come away with a few lessons about friendship, getting through tough times, self-esteem, true love and accepting each other for who and what they are. 

“The Full Monty” will run through July 13. Tickets and information are available through the box office at 845-794-1194 or online at fbplayhouse.org.