THE FULL MONTY

A Musical Comedy

The phrase “Full Monty” is a British term meaning “complete”, or, like popular US slang, “going all the way.” “It also became known to mean ‘taking it all off’ “, according to the director’s notes in the playbill for the production of this name we recently and very thoroughly enjoyed at Vero Beach’s Riverside Theater.

The play is about six out-of-work steel workers who are driven to make some cash in order to save their families, their homes and their self-respect, and they choose to become male strippers.  What follows is nearly two hours of hilarious, poignant, very, very professionally staged scenes that celebrate the strength of the human spirit.

It features the actors and behind-the-scenes folks alike who dazzled the audience with a staccato of smoothly transitioning scenes framed by an eye-pleasing montage of sets.

There are splashes of visual sizzle as the play delighted its evening guests who wondered just how the obvious conclusion of “taking it all off” might be presented in this very tasteful, family environment.

It was handled masterfully as the actors did a dazzling choreography of undressing until exquisite timing had them reaching nudity at precisely the same time the audience was blinded with a blast of light from the play’s illuminated name.

This acclaimed facility is known as a professional producing theater.

It was easy to see why it enjoys this artistic acclaim.

Bravo.

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That’s lady friend Sue (top) approaching the palm lined entrance of the theater in a city park on its barrier island while (below) patrons are dazzled by a terrific light sculpture in the lobby.   We were unable to share any views of the stage or auditorium because theater officials are fussy about such things and we respected their wishes.