Review: THE FULL MONTY at Penobscot Theatre

Desperate times call for desperate measures, especially if you are an unemployed steel mill worker turned male stripper. Penobscot Theatre Company of Bangor, ME brought this experience to life in their performances of "The Full Monty." Directed by Ethan Paulini, it is based on the film of the same name. This musical is running from June 15th - July 9th.

The musical is set in modern day Buffalo, NY and follows the lives of a group of men who have lost their jobs due to the closure of the steel mill they worked at. Jerry Lukowski (Daniel Kennedy) is divorced father who must come up with money to pay his ex-wife, Pam (Aimee Gerow) missed child support payments for their son, Nathan (Drew Campbell). After sneaking into a strip club with his former colleague, Dave Bukatinsky (Ben Laymen), a stay-at-home father of four, Jerry decides to put on a male revue. The men hold auditions to find other performers including their former supervisor, Harold Nichols (Ronald Brown).

The set, designed by Tricia Hobbs, was versatile to allow for changes between where scenes took place including the strip club and the characters' homes. Like Penobscot Theatre's production of "Papermaker" earlier this season, "The Full Monty" is relatable to audience members who may be dealing with the issues presented by these plays including job loss, financial difficulties, and divorce. The themes of this show are what make it a personal favorite of Penobscot Theatre's Artistic Director, Bari Newport.

"The Full Monty has been one of my all-time favorite shows ever since I first saw it...It's well-written and touching and the music is fantastic," Newport said.

Along with providing a good laugh, "The Full Monty" allows its audience to reflect on the creative ways that people overcome the challenges they face in life. Considering the musical's mature content, I would recommend it to adult audiences only. For more information or to purchase tickets to "The Full Monty," you may contact the Penobscot Theatre Company by visiting their website at penobscottheatre.org or calling them at 207-942-3333.

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