On Stage at Foothills Theatre, May 11- June 4
By Cherie Ronayne

The Full Monty is expected to cause a bit of an uprising when it officially hits the stage at Foothills Theatre on May 11. If you’re not familiar with the show, let me fill you in ~ it’s a musical stage version adapted from the hit 1997 movie about a group of down and out regular guys who turn to stripping to make ends meet and get their lives in order. The movie is set in Sheffield, England but the stage show relocates itself to Buffalo, NY. It’s a great, raucous story with a must-see ending.

So. Stripping as the premise for a show is a bit unusual, but it is not, by any means, what this particular show is all about. Foothills’ Acting Artistic Director Russell Garrett comments that “…it’s the smallest part of the show [no pun intended!]. It’s more about the characters and how they resolve their problems. And it’s the best contemporary musical that’s shown up in the past few years. Audiences always have a good time. It’s so much fun and it’s hilarious. Sure, the jokes are a guys-in-the-locker room, raunchy kind of humor, but it really has something for everyone. The characters are so real that any audience can easily relate and get behind them [don’t even think what you’re thinking!].”

And if there are doubts about just how funny it is, it pays to note that composer/lyricist David Yazbeck wrote for the David Letterman Show. So there. The year The Full Monty came out [stop it!] on Broadway it was unfortunately eclipsed by Mel Brooks’ The Producers, but audiences who saw both insist Monty is much better! If you know someone who up until this point hasn’t really enjoyed musical theatre, this is THE show to take them to to change his or her mind.

Actor Steve DeBruyne is a well-seasoned Monty actor who’s just come off of a 2-year tour that ended in December. At Foothills, he will be playing the role of Malcom, a character he describes as “…a big loner, nerd, sad and lonely guy who still lives with his Mother ~ sort of the Charlie Brown of the show.” Where does he find his motivation for this role? A move from Canada to Michigan as a child allows him to reach back and dip into those lonely feelings that he experienced as the new kid. When asked how he can still re-energize himself for the role after some 433 performances, he says, “When I hear the audience start to react to the first number, I want it to be my turn.” Now that’s a true performer, motivated by the audience and the sound of their applause. Is Steve skittish about “doing” the full monty? “Not anymore.” He describes “it” as being tastefully done with such build-up that that everyone loves the chaos and encourages it until…well, we can’t give away the ending, but rest assured that it’s FUN. “It’s also really exciting for the actors who feed off of the audience,” Steve says.

Director Devanand Janki from NYC says that “The character development is fantastic,” so much so that he believes his job “…will be very easy. The show has such heart. It appeals to everyone.“
And as a seasoned director, he is genuinely excited to start rehearsals. Even though he’s never directed this show before, he loves it and is very close to its creators. He’s just a “…little intimidated by re-inventing it…” at Foothills but is confident that the material will stand up. His biggest challenge? Perhaps it’s the surprise ending ~ that peek at peckers, glimpse of gonads, sighting of schlongs. Maybe….but you’ll have to buy a ticket to know for sure!