The Full Monty at The Curve, Leicester Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Vickie Njoroge
The Full Monty, Simon Beaufoy’s award-winning play, is based on the 1997 motion picture of the same name. Considering the film version, my guest and I were unsure of how it could and would be replicated on stage, especially the ending. We are relative newbies to theatregoing (becoming a reviewer for https://whatsgoodtodo.com/ has entirely made this possible and affordable) and our big questions for this performance were: How would the set designers make this work on stage? and, would the actors “get their kit off” at the end?
So, for those who don’t remember or are unaware of the storyline, the play takes place in Sheffield, in the late 1980s/ early 1990s, at a time when unemployment was high in a post-industrial climate. The themes covered in the play are as relatable today as they were 30 years ago; unemployment, suicide, broken families, poverty, body image, homosexuality, and loss of hope. However, the play is not all doom and gloom as the sensitive themes are interwoven with humour. In his interview with Mark Fisher, Simon Beaufoy says: “….It’s a coping mechanism. Humour is how you deal with despair if you happen to be from the north of England. You don’t have an emotional heart- on-your-sleeve conversation, you make a bloody good joke and that’s how you cope.”
I feel that this is not only true if you are from the north of England, but is a coping mechanism for most human beings when the going gets tough.
This dry, hard-hitting humour is mostly shown through the character of Dave, played in this performance by Neil Hurst. The character manages his negative feelings about his body-image by making jokes that deflect this. My guest and I feel that Neil Hurst stole the stage with his portrayal of Dave, very much equalling the performance of Mark Addy in the film version. He was fantastic from start to finish, whether hiding behind the witty one-liners or showing his sensitive side.
All of the actors played their roles well and were thoroughly believable as the whole performance pulled us in and we were able to put aside the fact that they were actors on a stage performing, instead backing the characters, cheering them on and feeling their loss of hope. The time went so quickly (which I always think is evidence that you are truly engaged).
So, how did the set designers make this work on stage?
The set design was very clever, using three main pieces like a jigsaw that rotated and reformed with each change of scene, representing the factory, jobcentre, park, and conservative club very well indeed. From the set to the costume design, everything was quite dull and grey (apart from the “posing pouches” and the odd shell suit). According to the designer, Jasmine Swan “The colour palettes used in the set and costumes are quite faded and muted tones, to create the bleak, dismal atmosphere of the struggle that the characters faced….” This definitely did the trick and also transported us back to that time in history. The soundtrack added to this feeling and the audience were singing along to the songs from their youth and our toes were tapping too. These were punctuated by meaningful and sometimes hard-hitting silences.
Did the actors “get their kit off” at the end?
Yes, indeed they did. It was all done very tastefully to “You can leave your hat on”, a performance within a performance, where the audience honestly believed that the men on stage were unemployed men from Sheffield who just needed a purpose in life. The audience encouraged them and erupted into cheers and whoops when the time came. Whether men from Sheffield or actors performing in Leicester, it takes a lot of courage to “get naked” in front of an audience every night and I take my hat off to them.
This performance was fantastic, my guest felt it a little slow to begin with as the scene was set, but the second half was quick-paced and extremely entertaining – so he gives it 4/5.
The Full Monty is a great night out and left us talking about the themes and how they still relate to our lives in the 2020s.
The theatre staff were welcoming and friendly and everything was fully accessible at ground level. We had ordered interval drinks from one of the bars and they were ready and for us come half time.
The Curve in Leicester is easy to get to (following the sat nav), with Rutland Street NCP Car Park on the doorstep Sat Nav postcode: LE1 1TQ. The theatre is situated in the cultural quarter, with a variety of bars and restaurants nearby for those wishing to make an evening of it. It is walking distance from the bus and train station too.
The Full Monty, at The Curve, Leicester Tue 26 – Sat 30 Mar 2024
Tickets 01162423595 https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-full-monty/
There is a wide variety of ticket prices ranging from £20 depending on age up to £59.50
Rating: 5/5