By Shari Barrett
The musical The Full Monty is a delicious confection mixing heart and humor with a heavy dose of male vulnerability and testosterone centering around a group of six men from vastly different backgrounds who bond together as a team during a crippling economic crisis in Buffalo, NY, to stage a striptease act to make ends meet. As they challenge themselves to overcome obstacles and fight unfair perceptions, the men discover the importance of friendship and family as they learn to unleash their long-lost mojo.
But at its core, it isn’t just a show about stripping, but a story about overcoming insecurity and creating second chances for a father and son, divorced parents, stalled marriages, and self-acceptance leading to a budding unexpected love.
Now onstage at The Nocturne Theatre in Glendale through August 16, The Full Monty with a book by Terrence McNally is highlighted by David Yazbek’s pop-rock score featuring a mix of campy dance numbers and emotionally charged vocals leading up to the highly anticipated, fully committed final reveal scene. The production is directed by Andy Meyers with music director Chris Wade, and choreographer Dean Bais who brilliantly stages each in-the-round musical number.
Featured in the triple-threat cast is Gerry Tonella as Jerry Lukowski, the ringleader of the group who desperately needs to raise money to ensure his visitation rights continue with his son, Nathan, played by William Morrow, whose real-life father Wes Morrow portrays Harold Nichols, who attempts to teach sexy dance moves to the others. David Gallic portrays loveable, insecure, and rotund Dave Bukatinsky who longs to give his beloved wife everything her heart desires without letting her see his internal struggles to make that happen.
Red-haired Thomas Adoue Polk (who recently rocked the house as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame) portrays Malcolm MacGregor, wonderfully devoted to his mother but wanting nothing more than a place of his own to stand on his own two feet. Lonnie Jones III portrays Noah “Horse” T. Simmons, an older black man who can dance better than the others but worries his lack of being the type of “Big Black Man” the others expect will make them think less of him as a man. And Truman Bjarke portrays Ethan Girard, a skinny young man who can’t sing or dance but possesses the biggest asset sure to please their female audiences.
And to start the show and let us see what kind of dancer the other men want to be, JeanPaul Acocella portrays professional Chippendale dancer Buddy “Keno” Walsh, who dances provocatively while stripping down to as little as possible in this adults-only production!
And here’s to the women in the show! Hired to accompany the men as they learn to dance is the elder piano player and entertainment mavin Jeanette Brumeister, portrayed to the hilt by Pat Sibley who shines as she struts her stuff during “Jeanette’s Showbiz Number” opening Act 2. Tommi Jo Mongold portrays Georgie Bukatinsky, Dave’s wife, who dreams of a promised vacation in Puerto Vallarta and can count on her husband to do the housework, which he willingly does to keep her happy.
Kate Clarke portrays Vicki Nichols, Harold’s mild-mannered wife, and Faith Berrigan portrays Estelle Genovesse, Pam’s office assistant who has the reputation of never keeping her legs together, and is now dating Jerry, much to Nathan’s chagrin. Taylor Renee Castle portrays Pam Lukowski, Jerry’s ex-wife now on the verge of marrying again to a man her son, Nathan, really likes. But when she finds out Jerry has been taking Nathan to his striptease rehearsals, she steps in to end his visitation rights. So, will Jerry agree to do the show as promised if it means losing contact with his son? See the show to find out!
Thanks to the guidance of director Andy Meyers, each of these actors perfectly balances the raucous, laugh-out-loud comedy with poignant moments, making the story more authentic with real-life characters doing their best to survive during troubling times. And kudos to music director Chris Wade for crafting not only raucous entertainment but well-crafted harmonies during heart-tugging musical moments. Costumes designed by Tanya Cyr perfectly capture each character’s individuality and allow for freedom of movement during scene changes as well as during Dean Bais’ often athletic choreography.
Don’t miss your chance to see this high quality, entertaining and tantalizing musical locally before its first major Broadway revival takes place in spring 2027 at the Todd Haimes Theatre, produced by Roundabout Theatre Company.
The Full Monty performances take place at The Nocturne Theatre, 324 N. Orange Street in Glendale 91203, through August 16, playing in rep with Dracula the Musical running through August 23. Visit thenocturnetheatre.com for specific dates, times, and cost of tickets.
