Shake It All Off with the Full Monty

By on April 30, 2024 6:53 pm in Arts and Entertainment, Books, Brooklyn Heights, Comedy, Dance, Fun, Movie shoots, movies, Multidisciplinary, Music, Nightlife, Theater, Willowtown

These have felt like dark days recently—–so why not shake it all off 1980’s style—and go for the Full Monty. The pop-rock musical about six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers who stage a strip show after seeing their wives’ enthusiasm for Chippendales opens on Friday at the Heights Players.  The show, an Americanized version of the hit movie, is based on the book by Terrence McNally with Music/Lyrics by David Yazbek and directed by Marie Ingrisano Isner. But we’re not in the steel mills of Yorkshire or the rust belt of Buffalo, but in the cobblestone wilds of Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights

FullMonty2

 

I loved the 1997 British classic film so much that when I saw the notice for auditions, I sent my own husband to try out. Brave man! I know the actual cast–which, alas, does not include my beloved–must be something special—because he looks pretty good in his skivvies. I’m looking forward to seeing the cast sing, dance and shimmy us to a good laugh and a warm heart. It’s about friends and change and shifts in the fabric of our society and gender expectations and fathers… and stripping down to what matters.

FullMonty1

Will they take it all off? Will we?

One way to find out, people.

I know I’ll be there on opening night to see if we get the “full monty” from six men with nothing to lose. Whatever happens, it’s better than staying home with the newspapers and the talking heads!

And bring your mates, Mates!

The Full Monty will run for nine performances from Friday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 19th at The Heights Players.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets ($25, $23 for seniors) can be purchased at www.heightsplayers.org or by calling the box office at 718-237-2752.

Share this Story:

, , , , , ,

  • Peter Scott-Thomas

    FWIW – GREAT!! show. To come up with 20 or so very fine actors/singers is – maybe, I’m easily impressed – borderline miraculous. Add that for the male actors, what the lines say about the “courage” that it takes to bare all MUST be true. Some of the lines that were once topical now evoke “huh?”s, and/but it was gratifying to see so many YOUNG people in the audience.

    On the other hand, while the “social commentary” is not prominent, there’s some of it there, and you can chew on the role that work plays in our lives if you’re so inclined.

    It was just about “SRO,” and it was unmissable that both the audience and the cast were having a blast!

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Agree Peter, my wife went yesterday at 2:00 and enjoyed it immensely. She was a bit disappointed, though, when they dimmed the lights when the final scene of full Monty took place. Just kidding. She was especially impressed with the intimacy of the theater and production.