**** The Paramount Theatre’s production of The Full Monty is a rowdy, risqué and totally fun show. The ensemble is terrific – the men are sexy-ish (you know they’re trying), the ladies are whooping it up! Kudos to the cast and crew on a great job! My friend Helen and I loved it. 4 Spotlights
This version of The Full Monty is an adaptation of the 1997 movie, written by Terrence McNally with Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek. The story’s been transported from somewhere in England to Buffalo, New York, which does make the dialogue easier to understand. This production is directed by Jim Corti and associate director, Creg Sclavi with choreography by Tor Campbell.
David Yasbek’s musical score isn’t particularly memorable, in fact, it probably wasn’t even needed, since the strippers’ music was already there. A couple of songs are rather unique - Big-Ass Rock, Jerry’s suggestions for the methodology of suicide; and Michael Jordan’s Ball, Jerry’s idea about how to teach rhythm to clueless men. Kory Danielson directs and conducts the Paramount Orchestra.
In the story, a lot of people are out of work, since the steel mill closed – a situation all too familiar to me and to my friends in Northwest Indiana. Although there might be service jobs available at Walmart or the mall, these are proud men who are bitter because they can no longer support their families.
Jerry Lukowski (Ben Mayne) is desperate for work. His ex-wife, Pam (Rebecca Hurd), is threatening to stop his weekends with his son, Nathan (Will Daly or Ellis Myers), unless he starts paying child support, and now there’s a smarmy boyfriend to deal with. Jerry’s best friend, Dave Bukatinsky (Jared David Michael Grant), is so depressed he hasn’t touched his wife Georgie (Veronica Garza) in months.
When all the wives go to see the Chippendales, Jerry and Dave decide to infiltrate the club through a window in the men’s room. When several women decide to use the men’s room, the guys hide in a stall and get an earful. After talking to one of the dancers, Jerry gets an idea! If he and Dave put on a strip show, they can make a bunch of money.
On the way home from the strip club, Jerry and Dave rescue Malcolm MacGregor (Adam Fane) from a suicide attempt - see Big-Ass Rock above. When they recognize him as the security guard at the closed steel mill, they convince him to let them use the mill as rehearsal space for their act.
When they find their former foreman, Harold Nichols (Jackson Evans) taking dance lessons with his wife, Vicki (Ann Delaney), they blackmail him into teaching them how to dance. Since he never told Vicki that he was out of work, he caved immediately.
The next step is to hold auditions. The guys are getting depressed when Noah “Horse” T. Simmons (Bernard Dotson) shows up. Although he walks with a cane, he’s such a good dancer he’s a shoo-in. When Ethan Girard (Diego Vaquez Gomez) shows up, he’s determined to dance up a wall just like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain. After a couple of spectacular fails, he admits he can’t dance but reveals that he’s really well endowed!
A tough old broad, Jeanette A. Burmeister (Liz Pazek), “just shows up, piano and all” for the auditions. She’s a sarcastic know-it-all, but she’s tired of assisted living so she’s decided to play for them. She’s been everywhere, played for everyone who’s anyone in show business, and she tells the guys all about it in Jeanette’s Showbiz Number.
The Full Monty ensemble includes Caron Buinis, Lydia Burke, Alanna Chavez, Evan C. Dolan, Tiyanna Gentry, Donovan Hoffer, Kevin Kuska, David Moreland, Lee Palmer, Abby C. Smith, David Stobbe and Matt Thinnes.
The Paramount Orchestra includes Kory Danielson (Conductor), Cameron Tragesser (Associate Conductor), Sean McNeely (Reed 1 - Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax), Matt Wifler (Reed 2 - Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Recorder), Mark Olen (Trumpet,/Flugelhorn 1), Marty Tilton (Trumpet/Flugelhorn 2), Catie Hickey (Trombone 1), Steve Duncan (Trombone 2/Bass Trombone), Cameron Tragesser (Keyboard 1), Celia Villacres (Keyboard 2), Dave Saenger (Guitar 1 Acoustic/Electric), Rafe Bradford (Bass), Dave Victor (Drums) and Jeff Handley (Percussion).
The Full Monty runs through October 6th at the Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd, Aurora. Valet parking is available, plenty of street parking too.
* Contains adult language and brief nudity. Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 1:00 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets range from $28-$85. FYI (630) 896-6666 or www.paramountaurora.com