Review: The Full Monty, Theatre Royal Norwich
This is the perfect pick me up for this rather drab time of year - a real belly laugh of a show which holds our attention throughout.
The hit 1997 movie spawned this stage play which makes a very welcome return to Norwich, with the (predominantly female) audience loving the tale of redundant steelworkers in Sheffield
forming their own strip act to perform the Full Monty - full nudity.
The play’s social commentary has perhaps been lost over time; at the core of the piece is the desperation felt by thousands who were thrown out of work as the Sheffield steel industry collapsed - the skilled workers who thought they had a job for life.
Sure, there are flashes of their desperation but rather we just enjoy their banter and attempts at dancing as they journey towards performing at the local working men’s club.
Gary Lucy as the chief protagonist and all round geezer, Gaz, is just right, with the other cast members all capturing and portraying their character’s personality and particular personal circumstances well.
So, this is a fun show which builds to quite an ending. As they say, drop everything to get a ticket!
The show runs until Saturday. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Sarah Hardy