Gaz played by Robert Carlyle, Dave played by Mark Addy, Lomper played by Steve Huison, Horse played by Paul Barber, Guy played by Hugo Speer, and their former boss Gerald played by Tom Wilkinson are unemployed steel workers.
Gaz needs $700.00 to get keep partial custody/visitation rights over his son, Nathan who is played by William Snape. He comes up with the idea to dance for money, as in strip dancing. Their boss, Gerald, also joins their journey to learn to dance provocatively and perform for money because at this point they've all been unemployed for 6 months. Gerald gives the training as Nathan sits in on practices.
They all learn a choreographed dance and Gaz commits to two ladies taking a walk that the show will include a “full monty” [complete nudity]. The night before the performance they all sit around trying to figure out how to avoid getting an erection while they're dancing. This is hilarious!
Another great part was when Dave went to his shed behind his house to wrap himself in cellophane so he might lose weight before the performance because he has a fairly big gut. I laughed until I cried because he takes a roll of cellophane, a candy bar, and the theme song to “Rocky” is played in really flat notes!
As they practice in the abandoned steel factory the security guard catches them in the act. They are all in police uniforms and had stripped down to red g-strings when the police entered and arrested them.
Things started taking a change. Gerald was offered a job and was debating on whether or not to perform. Gaz temporarily loses custody of Nathan because he allowed his son to watch the practices, even though he was not nude during the practices! Lomper's mom dies. Dave walks out on his job. They are all considering not performing until they hear they have sold over 200 tickets already.
The night of the performance Nathan informs his father that Mandy [his ex-wife] played by Emily Woof, is in the audience and would not allow her boyfriend Barry played by Paul Butterworth to come. Dave decided to perform after his wife Jean played by Leslie Sharp finds out and asks him to go ahead with it so she can attend the performance to watch her husband in all his sexiness. I believe I even saw Gerald's wife Linda played by Di'erdre Costello in the audience.
Once the men all got on stage, they let it "All hang out! " It was so funny!
The action is mainly focused on Gaz, Dave, and Gerald. I thought Gerald was the most engaging because he was so full of emotion and annunciated his words properly. Gaz was a little hard to understand because he had a British accent. The weakest actor was definitely Steve Huison who played Lomper, but his character was supposed to be sort of shy.
There wasn't much to the set. There was nothing that really jumps out at me when I think of the scenery/set. The costumes were regular street clothes until they began stripping in their red g-strings and then went to their "birthday suits".
This play tells us that sometimes people don't always have the option of staying in their comfort zones and that when push comes to shove love conquers all but, money helps too!
The dominating image that sticks in my mind is when Gaz went to see his son and Mandy told him he couldn't until he paid $700.00. He was so crushed and yet this gave him the motivation he needed. Mandy also told him that their son did not like going to visit him in his home. This made Gaz evaluate his role in his sons' life.
I really enjoyed this film and I definitely needed the laughter!
