Review: Full Monty at Leeds City Varieties, May 16 to 20, 2017

WELL, well, well, what a surprise in more senses than one! I was thinking I was going to a ‘Songs from the Shows’ evening and instead it was ‘bums galore’! Why I wonder was it necessary to give the American version of this pop show? Surely it would have been more appropriate to take the good old Yorkshire accent, as the show’s original setting was, I believe, in Sheffield.

However this is a strong cast of men and ladies, the girls wearing eye catching costumes of all colours. A cast list of 24 all excelled, and it would be unfair to pick out any one person. Musically ‘Full Monty’ is a show of jazzy, robust and ever changing tempos, which are a challenge to singers and orchestra alike. The Society is lucky to have vocalists who are able to cope with this difficult music. Jim Lunt, the Musical Director, playing keyboards himself, is in charge of an impressive orchestra of six.

The show, as most people will know, has various interwoven stories within it. The main theme of course is the men deciding to earn some extra money by turning themselves into male strippers, but first of all they have to learn the art of stripping and rehearse a routine. Choreographers were Sian and Elaine Wormald, and they did a great job as movement throughout was excellent, the men particularly in their element. Director of ‘Full Monty’ was John Hall. Scenes changes moved quickly and were well thought out, although principals could have used the stage more than mainly front of stage, but this was a fine production and a team effort in every way.

In April 2018, this talented Society are moving back to the Grand Theatre, where they are to give Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s ground breaking musical ‘CATS’. After celebrating their 125 years of entertaining Leeds audiences, and the disruptions they have had to go through, it will be wonderful for this Leeds Society to be back where they belong.

by Val Pennett