Review: The Full Monty at Wales Millenium Centre

 

Today on the blog it’s my review of The Full Monty at Wales Millenium Centre! I’m s excited to share this one, because the movie is one of my all time favourite British films…

 

Review: The Full Monty at Wales Millenium Centre

I am so in love with the movie The Full Monty. I remember the talk all about the lady peeing standing up before I saw it, and I still marvel and giggle at that scene each time I watch the movie! I remember coming home from hospital after our miscarriage in 2017 and all I wanted to do was sit and drink tea and watch The Full Monty. Don’t ask me why, but I sat there and laughed and cried; it’s such a bittersweet film.

If you don’t know the storyline, well firstly, you’re missing out big time, and secondly, here’s how it goes… Take a bunch of unemployed men with very different personal struggles and imagine them coming together to create something inspiringly beautiful.

They’re all in need of money, so Gaz comes up with the idea of becoming strippers for one night only in the local club. The icing on the cake is the fact that this group will go all the way; the full monty! As the group bond, relationships are altered, lives are changed and love is found.

I couldn’t wait to see how it transferred to stage, and I’ll say right from the start, I was not disappointed! THe stage was set with industrial design and the old steelhouse at its core. Immediately the production burst to life with Northern charm, and I was so struck by Kai Owen’s version of Dave (he’s my favourite character in the movie, and now the play!). He was so wonderful and really struck me as a pained, lonely and almost desperate human being. I just wanted to give him a huge hug!

 

The whole cast was unbelievable, it was completely obvious how much chemistry there is between the performers, and it felt like we, as the audience, were a part of that! Gary Lucy (Gaz) was fantastic as the lead character, his relationship with his son Nathan (Fraser Kelly) was heartbreaking to watch in the first act. I love how it developed and I loved their interaction on stage; it felt like a really authentic father/son relationship.

Andrew Dunn was fantastic as uptight Gerald, and it was heartbreaking to see his life fall apart without any control. I also loved Louis Emerick as Horse, he was adorable and rocked it on stage during the dance scenes. Lomper (Joe Gill) and Guy (James Redmond) were fantastic and showed a very tender yet comical unravelling of their gay storyline. As for the huge appendage, well that was totally fantastic and Redmond shone in this role!

 

 

I cannot commend the performers enough. The production was outstanding, and the soundtrack was amazing, I was definitely bopping in my seat throughout the performance. The choreography was fantastic and really visually stunning, in particular the queueing scene where they all break out into a dance routine!

I spent most of the show crying with laughter, as were the people all around me! At the end I also felt quite sad it was over, so I admit, I shed a few tears…

I cannot tell you how much you need to book tickets for the performance of The Full Monty, it’s utterly outstanding.  With humour and despair at its core, this story offers hope, humour and above all, it offers love.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review of The Full Monty at Wales Millenium Centre, you can get your tickets here.

 

10/10