Theater Review: 'The Full Monty' at Connecticut Theatre Company

New Britain - Connecticut Theatre Company has reopened its doors to present the second musical of their 2022 season, ”The Full Monty.” The Broadway musical has a book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by David Yazbek.

The Americanized musical stage version was adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name. Six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of the Chippendales. As the group prepares for the show, working through their fears, self-consciousness, and anxieties, they overcome their inner demons and find strength in their camaraderie.

When director Duanne Campbell first stumbled upon this musical, he was immediately drawn to the catchy score and hilarious book. Campbell is now impressed with the depth of the show that “examines our identities, and what happens when those identities are challenged, or just plain ‘stripped’ away from us.”

While “The Full Monty” is a story full of heart, it is certainly not for all audiences. There is plenty of coarse language and partial nudity that could offend those who attend a performance unprepared. Right to the end, the audience wonders if these lovable misfits will really pull it off.

The show contains a raucous mix of razor-sharp humor with toe-tapping pizzazz. While some of the musical numbers are raunchy, they are balanced with a few low-key heartfelt songs, including "You Walk with Me" and "Breeze Off the River." Some of the best parts of the show are when the men sing together.

Unlike most of the productions offered by this venue, the more adult portions of this show make this heartwarming, upbeat comedy not really appropriate for children. The venue warns: “Please note *this show features adult themes and is not suitable for children*”

Nick Stanford, who holds a music degree from UConn, is the musical director and conducts the orchestra on an elevated platform. All of the musicians make the score sound amazing, with a big horn sound when needed. Phil Plott plays reed 1, Alan Wasserman plays reed 2, Bobby Salerno plays trumpet, Nick Zavaglia plays guitar, Jordan Brint plays bass and Nate Dobas is on drums.

Tullio Milani gives a great performance in the leading role of Jerry Lukowski. This actor brings life to the role of the man who wants to step up and be a good dad, while he admirably sings and dances his way through the two acts.

Tyler Gay and Jacob Shumway share the role of Jerry’s son Nathan. Gay, a young actor who has been part of 20 productions, was able to shine in the role at the performance I attended. Natalie Partola nicely plays Jerry’s ex-wife Pam.

Mark O’Donnell covers the roles of Teddy Slaughter and Reg Willougby. Carl Cannella does really well as Jerry’s overweight best friend Dave Bukatinsky in his CTC debut. Becky McLean plays his wife Georgie. Staci Battle plays Noah (Horse) Simmons in his second show with the group and Brendon Rogers plays Ethan Girard.

Michelle Rocheford Johnston makes the most of the great role of Jeanette Burmeister, a tough, seen-it-all showbiz musician who "shows up, piano and all" to accompany the boys' rehearsals. Peter Doeny plays Buddy (Keno) Walsh. Galen Donovan (in his seventh production with CTC) and Erin Frechette share the roles of Tony Giordano, a police officer and a minister.

David Nunner, president of the Connecticut Theatre Company, takes on the role of Harold Nichols, the guy’s former foreman and middle-class aspirant Harold Nichols, and Sheila Duckworth is a riot in the role of his materialistic wife Vicki. Kevin Kiley plays Malcolm MacGregor, the lonely security guard at the steel mill where Dave and Jerry once worked, and Kim Saltzman plays his mother Molly. Emma Gulick plays Estelle Genovese, Alexis Thomasi is Susan Hershey and Khara C. Hoyer plays Joanie Lish.

The director, who also served as scenic painter and sound operator, does well to have the excited women sit at tables among the audience for the final scene, making patrons feel like part of the action. Campbell’s wife Erin operates the light board. Erin Frechette and Kim Saltzman are the co-choreographers who put the men through their paces, who do admirably well with the moves.

“The Full Monty” is presented with one intermission. Remaining performance are scheduled for July 8 at 7:00 PM, July 9 at 7:00 PM and July 10th, 2022 at 2:00 PM Tickets at https://www.connecticuttheatrecompany.org/box-office/. Performances are presented at The Repertory Theatre located at 23 Norden Street in New Britain.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.