Arts & Leisure
Ogunquit Playhouse opens season with "The Full Monty"
By Rose Safran
OGUNQUIT - Wow!
What a great production of "The Full Monty," which was originally conceived by playwright Terrence McNally and made into a motion picture. Raw and raucous this musical comedy may be, yet it never offends, so adeptly has it been handled here. Furthermore, as a sort of play-within-a-play, it has a sparkling spontaneity as firecrackers of wit (and error) keep exploding throughout. This show, folks, is entertainment.
There are so many credits, so little space here for all of them that I'm touching upon the highlights - and in no particular order, either. There is the modern, slick faux steel-styled stage set appropriate for the theme: namely out-of-work Buffalo steelworkers who by happenstance seize upon the idea of performing as male strippers to earn some much-needed money.
There is the superb choreography under the deft direction of Keith Andrews who directed the national tour of this show - the dancing is smooth, fast, coordinated and professional throughout with interesting arrangements.
There is that inimitable Ogunquit favorite, veteran trouper Sally Struthers, more than ample in every way in the role of Jeannette, pianist for the budding performer-strippers. We see her dressed in deliberately lavish outfits, over-wigged (one white, one red), cigarette in mouth; she belts out lines with and without music and clowns around the stage, even performing somersaults, all with such deliberate husky-toned exaggeration that she brings the house down time and time again. She delivers some great one-liners such as "you ought to be spaded if you're in show business" ... "anybody want a hit?" as she lights up. She might sing, "Things Could Be Better" when the budding strippers fail to learn their new trade, but she's as good as ever - deliciously vulgar, a fading, volatile, electric prima donna. You just love her.
Then there are the guys - six strippers in training - yep, they do eventually go "the full monty" and the audience sits on the edge of seats throughout the near three-hour musical, waiting for this final touch. (Are we all voyeurs at heart?) Hunter Foster, a newcomer to the Ogunquit Playhouse and someone whom I hope we'll see more of, has the demanding role of Jerry Lukowski, the ringleader who comes up with the stripper concept (that is, after he and his buddy Dave discover that wives and girlfriends are paying big bucks to see a male stripper show that's in town.) Foster, who can sing, dance and act, enunciates clearly, has an excellent sense of timing, transmits fatherly feelings as well as combative ones and is equally adept with solo songs and duets. Joe Coots, who handled the role of the plump food-loving Dave for the show's national tour, inhabits it here, willingly wiggling his excess flesh throughout. Milton Nealy, clearly a Broadway pro, is "Horse" and his "Big Black Man" musical number is an exciting moment - he's all rhythm from feet, fingertips, full body to facial expression. Richard Barth is well cast as the mother-dominated simpleton Malcolm who is revived when joining Jerry and Dave in a musical number and whose life will enter a new era when befriended by the wall-climbing Ethan Girard, here played by Nick Dalton who previously handled the role in another production. New to Ogunquit is Broadway performer, Joe Dellger who neatly fits the role of Harold, the newly dismissed executive with an extravagant wife who is coned into teaching the boys how to dance and do their stuff. In contrast to these assorted bodies (the scantily clad six bodies in lineup are funny!) is one body beautiful, the star professional male stripper who inspired the steel workers; Todd DuBail has the right equipment for that role.
Keeping interest at a high peak are the many sub-themes such as fear of losing a wife, fear of losing visitation rights to a child and more. But, it is the antics that carry the day. One hilarious scene included interviewing various potential candidates for their "fit" to join the strippers in the show which they will appropriately call "Hot Metal." As to the lucky winning candidate - well, I leave that one up to your imagination.
"The Full Monty" will remain at the Ogunquit Playhouse through June 30. For further information, call 646-5511.
