Pittsburgh City Paper: When The Full Monty opened on Broadway, in October 2000, it looked as if there would be a Tony Award sweep for this musical version of the popular British film about a group of unemployed steelworkers staging a strip show to raise cash.
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I saw The Full Monty last night for the first time, and I was totally blown away. I did not know much about the show, apart from the fact that it involved male strippers, and I was very pleasantly surprised at the amount of depth that the show possessed. The actors all did an incredible job, as usual, and the design elements all worked together beautifully. The person that saw the show with me kept commenting on how cool the lighting was, which was very exciting considering how few people outside of theatre notice lighting design in a show. The automation in the set was so cool to watch actually work with the show, since I had seen the platforms moving back and forth many times prior to actually seeing the show. I was very impressed at how everything worked seamlessly, and there were no technical errors (that I noticed) in a relatively tech-heavy show. The review mentions how The Full Monty was robbed of their Tonys by The Producers, and after seeing the show last night, I agree. Obviously, I did not see the Broadway production, but the story and the score were both well done and powerful, while still being funny. I can not wait to see the show again with my parents tomorrow.
I got the chance to watch The Full Monty twice, preview and opening. On both nights I was able to find new things that stuck out to me during the show. I was also able to understand some events in the show during the second performance that I didn't fully get the first time I watched it. The cast was incredible. Watching them perform made me so proud to be going to Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. My favorite characters being the supporting cameos that helped push the story along and created this world where these men were trying to prosper in. I was glad to see the automation work so smooth. I felt as if I was watching a broadway performance because of how I never saw a crew member which kept me focused in the world. The lighting, sound, and costumes along with the beautiful set, worked so well together in creating such a fun, bright experience. It was a party of a show to have at a great time of the year where students need that comedic break to get their minds off school for a bit.
I had no idea I would ever to be able to connect to a musical about male steel-millers turned strippers in such a deep, emotionally gratifying way.
Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd get the chance to say.
In all seriousness, however, I really did love The Full Monty more than I ever expected I could, for reasons I had no idea such a show could possess. What stuck out to me throughout the story line, as it always does, was the love that all of the characters had for each other, and the love for all other aspects of the show that watching their relationships inspired in me. When it comes to costuming, the 80s is usually far from my dream era. But after watching the show on Friday, I'd love to design a show set in the same time period, hair, polyester, and all. More so, what stuck out to me about the relationships between the characters was the way that self-love (or lack thereof) pervaded their health. While Harold and Dave assumed their wives wouldn't love them for their flaws, what they came to discover was that this imaginary hatred came only from their own doubts, and in the end would have been detrimental to their relationships had they let it go on. To me, the commentary on body positivity and personal fulfillment was the most vital element of the show, for when it comes to something that we often think of as being such a modern thing it is important to be reminded that these truths and difficulties are timeless. I wish I could go back and purchase tickets for every single night, because that is how much I feel I need to be reminded of this. The struggles - not to mention the fashion choices, hairstyles, what have you - that people my age think we invented have been around since long ago, before the 80s, before we even had magazines to tell us how to look. And this makes them all the more bearable, all the easier to triumph over and understand. To walk away from a show which discusses such issues with a heart full of joy and that wonderful zeal that comes from having way too much pure fun watching theatre is a rarity at best, and one I am so proud just to have been in the presence of. The Full Monty surprised me in so many more ways than one, and I will never forget the gratitude and energy it left me with. Bravo and congratulations to everyone involved.
The first mention I ever heard of Full Monty was in eighth grade. My friend had landed the role of "Nathan" at a local regional theater. I, of course, begged my parents to let me go. Truthfully, I didn't understand why until after seeing the show here. Despite the show "being about" male strippers, the creative team did a fantastic job of interpreting it as so much more. This could have just been yet another "Magic Mike", but instead it had a lasting statement about the problems with ideal body images. While watching, I was drawn to the reoccurring notion of how men are also dependent upon their looks for self-esteem. As a women, I was well aware of this truth in my own world, but I had not realized the extent to which it affects the other gender. It is horrible to think that body image has the ability to destroy relationships and confidence. However, it is a truth of this world. The Full Monty does a fantastic job of conveying this ugly truth through energetic songs and crude humor. Maybe in the future we'll all be able to accept our bodies, for all their blessings and shortcomings, and be brave enough to reclaim our confidence and mend our lives. Personally, I don't plan on achieving this through stripping.
This is so nice to hear! And I agree with him about everything, It was a great night. It was one of the biggest shows I have ever seen, and to know that I played a a part in making it happen makes me so proud. It was all so high quality and professional and I was engaged the entire time. I love theatre that has something to say, and I think this school does a great job of giving shows with statements a platform to make their statements be heard, but this fun musical was welcome in my eyes.And to be honest because it was so light I was able to see the heaviness that comes with being a man, something I hadn't really seen before. And I bought it, I bought it all, every character, every scene I was completely engaged. I appreciate Patrick Wilson’s work. I loved how the women came out into the audience it was the perfect touch to me. And congrats to the design team as well! All of the costumes, set pieces, lighting and sound all came together flawlessly for me. Very nicely done.
It's always good when we get a nice review here, and I'm so happy that this writer felt the way that I did throughout the show. I wish I had been able to see Full Monty more than once because I thought it was incredible. I think what worked for me the most about it was that it wasn't trying to be something it wasn't. The show calls for a huge flashy set, and some funny costumes (see fat suit) and not acting like you're solving all the worlds problems with the show. That isn't to say that theater isn't the right platform for talking about social issues, I thought Antony and Cleopatra was one of the most moving things I've ever seen. However there is something to be said about leaving a theater and just feeling happy. I spent that whole day humming the songs and with a smile on my face, and while I liked both other shows that opened that weekend neither of them did that for me. I thought the cast was amazing, the design was flawless, and very cohesive, and it was a real high quality musical that I could have seen anywhere, not just at a school. Congrats to the cast and crew on I think almost a sold out run because Monty was the most fun I've had at a show here thus far.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the CMU School of Drama production of ‘The Full Monty’ was fantastic. The lighting was spot on. The set was a steel. And the acting, well I loved what I saw! All of that being said, I can not help but think the gentleman who did this review has absolutely no idea what he is doing. The script for ‘Monty’ is quite dated, and although it’s packed with laughs, I would say they are your run of the mill musical theatre humor. Nothing exceptional, and definitely not worthy of claiming that ‘The Producers’ robbed them of Tony Awards. The score also was not that memorable. As I sit here trying to remember the melody of any of ‘Monty’s’ songs I am at a loss, but I can easily conjure up half a dozen melody’s from ‘The Producers.’
This focus of pitting the Broadway productions from 16 years ago of ‘The Full Monty’ against ‘The Producers’ is wildly out of touch and unwarranted. Why didn’t the reviewer spend his valuable literary space to address all of the aspects of the CMU production. After all, it is a review of the CMU production, there is no point to rehash a bitter battle from Broadway 16 years ago.
I think the power of a feel good show is often underestimated, and these types of productions are overlooked in favor of more "high art" shows. And yet this show was as thought provoking and poignant as it was funny. As a neat encapsulation of the insecurities that come along with the human condition, the show is quite effective and quite good. I am very glad the show is being received as well as it made me feel.
While I concur with the final assessment of our production of Full Monty given in this article, I think the article devoted far to much space and content to bemoaning the eclipsing of the Broadway version of The Full Monty by The Producers. While knowing the a musical's or play's history is always beneficial, the majority of this article seemed to be stuck in the past. It did not feel quite as concerned with sharing an opinion of our version of Full Monty, as much as reliving past snubs.
I can't argue that The Full Monty is a good show but the digs at Mel Brooks are unnecessary. I am a HUUUGE Mel Brooks fan and I believe he is one of the smartest writers (and funniest) to walk this earth. Yes, that is high praise but I mean it. Mel Brook's The Producers was a groundbreaking piece of work that I honestly believe changed musical theater. The Full Monty is a great show and was definitely robbed a few Tony's that maybe it could have won, but I do not think that The Producers did not deserve anything that they won. Mel Brooks might not be a composer by trade but I do not think his songs are any less great than those in The Full Monty. But I also think our production of The Full Monty was incredible. It was a lot of fun to watch and the songs are catchy. You can tell the characters really knew what they were trying to portray and that the director had a good grip on the ideas of the musical.
The Full Monty was such a great night at the theater! I had the opportunity to see the show multiple times including closing night. I loved the emotion and energy brought to the stage every night. I was truly blown away at the talent on and offstage.
The writing of the show sets up a cinematic plot line that keeps the tempo of the musical fast paced but also calls for a lot of different moving parts. The automation flowed and the set was just enough.
I loved the costumes and use of color. My favorite pieces where when the two couples were onstage singing about their love. The use of contrasting colors in the women's blouses kept my eye bouncing back and forth. It was a great way to balance the actors on stage. Though I could tell the fat suit was fake I still believed the character and looked past it. Molly's fat suit was really successful.
The choreography was simple and fun. The boys did a great job.
My favorite part of the show was when Amanda Jerry broke the fourth wall. The yelling and playing with the audience was a great touch and really engaged everyone. Overall it was a really successful production and I really enjoyed it. It was really exciting having an alum here working on the production.
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