SIMON Beaufoy has successfully taken his 1997 film script and produced a winning stage production.

There is nothing like The Full Monty to bring laughter and enjoyment despite the fact it touches on unemployment, suicide, despair and impotence a group of redundant steel workers led by Jack the Lad 'Gaz' (Ken Doughty) to become male strippers and go the whole way to earn a buck. Gaz is penniless, way behind with his maintenance payments and loses his most prized possession his son Nathan played by 13 year old Sheffield boy Travis Caddy who gave a more than confident performance.

The other members of The Bums of Steel were Gaz's best mate Dave (Roger Morlidge), Gerald (Simon Rouse) who thinks he is a cut above the rest, arthritic Horse (Sidney Cole), failed suicide Lomper (Craig Gazey) who was hilarious and Guy (Kieran O'Brien) who is gay, but ladies he has been blessed.

The impressive stage setting of a redundant steel mill filled the stage and was imaginatively used.

Whilst there didn't seem to be as much music in the show as I recall in the film this is a great night out.

The Full Monty runs until Saturday, 9th March.

 

Review by Nigel Wilson