Male Bonding Makes for Fuller 'Monty'

           In preparation for my interview with two of the stars of The Full Monty, the hit musical currently playing at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, I wanted to ask how they could account for the chemistry that is so wonderfully obvious between them during the show.  As it turns out, I never really needed to ask the question as it was extremely obvious the minute the interview started.  Steve Antonsen, who plays the lead, Jerry, and Daniel McDonald, who plays his best buddy, Dave, act pretty much the same with each other offstage as they do onstage.  In a play that really hinges on an honest portrayal of male relationships, Toby's has hit the jackpot with these two!  They finish each others' sentences, explain what the other means by something said, and laugh heartily at what must be dozens of fond memories created during the show's rehearsal period and subsequent run.  In short, they, like their characters, are fast friends – buddies, pals –  any synonym for that most mystical of male things, male bonding.

            Both actors admit readily that Monty is really a show that should appeal to men.  Both actors bristle at one critic who said the show was just the thing for "horny 80 year old women."   "It is not about the stripping," Antonsen insists, "it's about manly love, dealing with feeling inadequately, and mostly about male friendships.  What guy can't relate to that?"  McDonald quickly agrees.  "It is nice to see how [each of these guys] brings out the best in each other."  Indeed, in the show, six desperate, unemployed steel workers form a Chippendale's-like group to earn some fast cash, and a huge dose of confidence.    

And since the actors really do go all the way – nothing less than the Full Monty – the next question is obvious:  just how were rehearsals for the famous strip number, "Let It Go"?  Mr. McDonald explains, "We actually waited until the last minute to get to the end.  I think there was a lot of 'what if this goes wrong?' or 'what if the audience sees too much?'  As it turns out, we way over-thought it, because by the time we get to the end, the audience is so with us!  They WANT these men to succeed, and it has nothing to do with stripping to nothing.  The laughs and cheers of support make it so easy.  And it is freeing.  When we rehearsed it, it was just us and the rest of the cast and empty seats.  We really had to depend on each other – everyone gets a little scared when there's a challenge.  But we built up such a support system that now it is just funny.  We are all like, 'let's get out there and do it!'  Antonsen, nodding in agreement throughout adds, "I think the scene at Harold's was way more difficult!"  In that scene the characters are stripping down to underwear in front of each other for the first time, and play several minutes in that state of undress.  Add to that a fantasy number where their women are singing about how physically inadequate the men all are, and one can imagine that rehearsing that might be more difficult than a choreographed strip tease.

            Steve is no stranger to the show, having played this same role last summer during a run at Cockpit-in-Court.  "At first, we were all full of questions for him," Daniel says.  But other than knowing the show already, this production is vastly different for the actor.  "Because it is running much longer, I get the chance to really look at [Jerry] and see what drives him."  McDonald interrupts, "Yeah, on the page, Jerry is a real d@#k.  And yet, he (Antonsen) finds the warmth of the character.  I think that Jerry would be a great dad, eventually."  "It honestly feels really different each time we do it.  It is a real luxury to run longer and work on a piece with a group that is so committed," Steve continues.  "I look at it like we (Dave and Jerry) are on the Yellow Brick Road and we pick up the others along the way."  What is new about this experience is that it is his Toby's debut.

            "It has really been a dream come true.  Ever since I started in local theatre, I knew of Toby's.  And having it here in Baltimore has made it easier.  I don't know if I could handle the commute to Columbia.  They all welcomed me like family.  They are all such generous people – they are a family and they happen to all work together."  Dan adds, "He jumped in with both feet.  Sometimes it can be hard to break into a group.  The minute we met, we hugged each other – it felt very natural right away – and now we are great friends.  We have so much fun onstage and off!"  Both look at each other and laugh.

            Mr. Mc Donald is no stranger to Toby's, having worked for the venerable lady for years, and now as publicity manager for the Baltimore location, plus acting in most of the shows and even co-directing last year's acclaimed production of Ragtime.  And he has played a huge variety of characters – the sanctimonious reverend in Footloose, the dark bigoted Irishman in Ragtime.  Still, he insists, The Full Monty has been the most rewarding.  "It is my number one part!  This guy gets a huge response every night.  And, to be completely honest, I look forward to working every night with Steve Antonsen.  I look forward to these two guys coming together – I love their friendship."  Still, what keeps him coming back to Toby's show after show?  "At 50 years old, I have to have pride in my work; it is not about the money.  And working here allows that.  It's about not just the quality of the shows, but the integrity of the company.  We seem to collect the very best talent in the area.  People come and go, sure, but I liken us to a dryer filter.  We collect the greatest lint!"

            Clearly, the emphasis on the show is on the six men of Hot Metal, but both actors insist that the female characters aren't getting the short end of the stick.  "I think the audience would get burned out on just the guys.  The girls make a real balance and add so much to the characters we play," McDonald says.  "Larry (Munsey, co-star and director) was very specific about the girls.  I think at first they thought their big number, "Woman's World" was a throw away – just a funny scene in the men's room.  But Larry really helped them see how important they are to the show." 

          In Monty, Antonsen's main female relationship is with his ex-wife, Pam, played by Tina DeSimone.  "I really connect with her," Steve explains, "and since the two characters are in conflict it is hard to get that across, but by the end I think the audience sees it clearly.  Pam needs a stable relationship, but Jerry is an adventurer kinda guy.  He's not fully grown up.  She forces him to start."  Dave, McDonald's role, has a faithful if struggling wife, Georgie, played by Rebecca Garrahy.  "I was so excited to play this with Rebecca!  I had directed her in Always, Patsy Cline at Winters Lane.  We had an instant comfort zone with each other, which makes our onstage relationship that much more real.  The truth is, though, she's my leading lady, and he," nodding toward Antonsen, "is my leading man.  I mean our relationship is what really drives a lot of the play.  It is interesting to have both, and I am lucky it is with [Rebecca and Steve]."

         Just how much do these actors have in common with their characters, which fit them like gloves?  "Well, I am a supportive friend like Dave is.  Dave is always there for Jerry, sometimes more than Jerry is for Dave.  But you know, it's funny.  All the way up to tech week, I thought I had a handle on who Dave was.  Then (co-director) Toby came in, and watched.  She gave notes to everyone, then said, 'Dan, let's take a walk.'  We really talked it out.  She saw a whole other Dave that I just wasn't playing.  She said, 'Go back and find what of him is you.'  And you know what?  It clicked, and the rest is what you see now."  Mr. Antonsen has just the opposite response. "Very little of me is like Jerry.  I have my goals locked in, and they don't have a negative impact on others.  I'm a theatre person – artsy – I don't care much about the bills, and stuff.  But I am a lot like all of the guys with the body image issue.  I mean, what guy doesn't have these issues?  Every guy worries about being inadequate.  When I was young, I was pigeon chested and had bad acne.  So I can relate." 

         With about three weeks of shows left, both actors are really looking forward to each show.  "The audiences have been, for the most part, very, very supportive.  And this cast is incredible.  People say that kind of stuff all the time, but in this case I mean it very honestly.  A lot of times by the end of a run, I'm ready to let go and move on to new things.  This time, I know, will be very different."  Looking at Antonsen, McDonald smiles, "It will be very sad to say goodbye to him."  They look at each other quietly, then simultaneously burst into laughter, shake hands and hug.  Life imitates art in this case. 

The Full Monty continues through March 25^th at Toby's in Baltimore.  BroadwayWorld.com and Toby's have joined forces again to bring you readers a great deal.  Tonight, Friday and Sunday evening, BroadwayWorld readers have a chance to see The Full Monty at a buy one, get one free rate!  That's right!  For just $46.00, two people get a great show and a great dinner!  See the related article posted yesterday on the Baltimore and Washington DC pages! 

Thanks, Toby's, Daniel and Steve!

PHOTOS courtesy of Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore.