Nudity always draws a crowd. Or at least, that's what the cast of "The Full Monty" may be hoping.
Musical Forum's spring musical opens tonight at 8 p.m. in the Production Workshop downstairs space in T.F. Green Hall, following a group of average Joes who turn to stripping to make ends meet - and rediscover self-respect in the process. The book was written by Terrence McNally, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek '82, following the 1997 film of the same name.
With a run time of around two-and-a-half hours, the show, directed by Matt Bauman '10, follows a group of laid-off factory workers searching for work in early-1990s Buffalo, N.Y. After witnessing the success of a local male strip club, divorced father Jerry (Brandon Chinn '09) recruits his sad sack buddy Dave (Mike Williams '10) to join him in creating a one-night-only strip show to make some extra money. Jerry needs the money in order to retain partial custody of his son, Nathan (Adam Cassel '08).
Jerry and Dave eventually enlist four more desperate locals - mama's boy Malcolm (Chris Tyler '10), former manager Harold (Herald Sports Columnist Ellis Rochelson '09), elderly "Horse" (Nick White '10) and the well-endowed Ethan (Lee Taglin '10). As the nervous group practices for the big night, with the help of brassy pianist Jeanette (Sophie Shackleton '09), the personal stakes get higher.
Harold hasn't told his wife Vicki (Allison Schneider '10) that he lost his job because he's afraid she will leave him. Dave and his wife Georgie (Beth Berger '10) are becoming increasingly estranged, leading to his defection from the group to take a job as a mall security guard.
The professional stakes also get higher when Jerry impulsively declares that the group will go for the "full monty" - complete nudity - in order to differentiate themselves from professional strippers. As word spreads and personal plot lines come to a head, the town comes out in full force to see "the full monty." Will all the characters perform? Will they go all the way?
Musical Forum's "Monty" is set in a grubby two-story industrial space that converts easily into a seedy nightclub with the help of a sparkly curtain and neon lights. Decked out in flannel and light denim, the actors attempt to channel an early-1990s working-class aesthetic, some affecting a New York accent. A lively 11-piece orchestra accompanies the performers.
On the whole, the performances were strong, though the lengthy show dragged a bit during some of the quieter musical numbers. Especially memorable were the over-the-top supporting performances by Rafael Cebrian '11, as sassy professional stripper Keno, and Schneider's loud-mouthed Vicki. In another strong turn, Williams was particularly believable as the overweight Dave, facing weight issues and marital problems, at one point finally snapping under Jerry's taunts. The cast seemed to be having fun with a number of high-energy performances.
"Monty" is a funny, bawdy musical, featuring boisterous songs, but it manages to simultaneously address important social issues, including an examination of gender roles. The show's first song, "Scrap," features the male factory workers lamenting their unemployment and how it undermines their sense of manhood. "I want to feel like the husband instead of the wife," Dave sings. This is followed up with the song "It's a Woman's World," in which Dave's wife Georgie and the other local women celebrate their newfound power and sexual liberation. "Who's got the power? Who's got the juice? Whose got the money?" Georgie asks.
While the women are jubilant at their newfound dominance, the situation is taking its toll on the men. Dave and Jerry save Malcolm during a suicide attempt, leading to a hilariously dark song called "Big-Ass Rock," in which Dave and Jerry come up with creative ways they could help Malcolm kill himself while Malcolm revels in his new friendships.
The energetic song "Michael Jordan's Ball," which concludes the first act, features the first full dance routine from the six main male characters. During the song, Jerry teaches the others to dance in unison through imitating Michael Jordan's basketball maneuvers.
In another memorable song, "Goods," the men are hit with a sudden bout of physical insecurities over the prospect of appearing nude in front hordes of women. Looking over a magazine of women's photos with a critical eye, they suddenly realize they could be judged just as harshly. "Well, we just better hope the women are more forgiving than we are," Dave cautions. Lingerie-clad, the female cast members swan on stage, personifying the men's insecurities. "He's fat, he's old, he's skinny, he's bald/ he's short/ he's got pimples on his ass," they sing viciously. Horrified, the men realize that physical judgement can go both ways. "Holy goddamn f-ing shit," they cry. "Women can be men."
Bauman said he proposed "Monty" to Musical Forum because he loves its music. "I gravitated toward the music so much," Bauman said, adding he had first seen the show when he was much younger. He also said he appreciated the various issues the show raises, such as body issues, racial stereotypes and coming out to family and friends. Even though the story is about 30-, 40- and 50-year olds, Bauman said he feels younger people should be able to relate.
One issue Bauman faced in staging "Monty" was the question of how to present nudity, he said. In the show, stripping becomes a way to get past one's insecurities and stand literally and figuratively in the nude, he said.
But of course, nudity was an issue with the actors as well, many of whom had never been naked or partially naked on stage, Bauman said.
Getting the actors comfortable with the various levels of nudity required in the play was a slow process Bauman described as "group therapy," initially having everyone go shirtless, then in their underwear and so on. The actors "slowly got comfortable with their bodies individually," and then in group settings, he said.
Bauman said he hopes the audience will learn from the actors' brave example to "embrace their insecurities instead of trying to hide."
"I certainly have been living vicariously through stripping men," he added.
Performances are tonight, Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets are available on the Musical Forum Web site (mf.students.brown.edu/boxoffice) or at the door starting an hour before the show.
