Review: THE FULL MONTY Now Playing at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre

With the daily downpours in Kansas City, the only way to see a full moon is in the audience of The Full Monty at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. Karen Paisley directs the comical musical with book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbeth, and musical direction by Loren Bridge. The Full Monty runs through June 14 at the theater located at 3614 Main.

The Full Monty is the stage version of the 1997 British film of the same name, which takes place in Buffalo, New York. When a steel plant closes, the employees are permanently laid off and after months of unemployment, the money and prospects begin to run out. The wives of the workers attend the touring company of the Chippendales and two of the steelworkers sneak into the club, through the men's room window, to bring one of the wives out.

Hearing the conversation that takes place between the women after they invade the restroom during intermission, Jerry Lukowski forms a plan to take advantage of the popularity of the Chippendales. Threatened with the loss of his son, due to owing back child support payments, he devises a scheme to bring together six of his fellow unemployed steelworkers to form their own all-male revue. His plan to make the women want to attend the show is to give them what the Chippendales do not, The Full Monty.

Having gathered the other determined yet reluctant men, they proceed to try to overcome their inhibitions, anxieties, and self-consciousness about their own less than average bodies. Confrontations between wives, ex-wives, and fellow steelworkers bring roars of laughter from the audience. Songs such as "Big Black Man," sung by Horse (played by Quincy Nile Kuykendall, "Michael Jordan's Ball" sung by Jerry and the boys, and "Let it Go" sung by Hot Metal (the male-revue) and the ensemble add to the humorous entertainment of the show.

The talented cast of The Full Monty stars Drew Starlin as Jerry, Vincent Onofrio Monachino as Dave, Bob Paisley as Harold, Quincy Nile Kuykendall as Noah "Horse" Simmons, Adam Henry as Malcolm, and Jakob Wozniak as Ethan. Stash Case plays Vicki, Harold's wife, Andrea Boswell-Burns stars as Georgie, and Leah Swank-Miller stars as Pam Jerry's ex-wife.

Three standouts of the production are Leah Swank-Miller, Jakob Wozniak, and Valerie Braken-Dykes as Jeanette. Swank-Miller and Wozniak have wonderful singing voices and gave performances that were strong and smooth. Braken-Dykes brought an even higher level of comedy to the production with her depiction of the piano playing Jeanette.

The Full Monty is humorous and entertaining making for a delightful evening of theater, but unfortunately, some of the singers fall a little flat on some of the notes. The only other problem is that on some of the songs the orchestra is so loud that it is nearly impossible to hear the words. A good example is Malcolm; the orchestra constantly drowns out his vocals.

The Full Monty continues at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre through June 14. Purchase tickets by calling 816-569-3226 or visit the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre website. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre.

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