Looking for laughs in tough times
Review, by Olga AugheyDesperate times demand desperate measures - and that was how six ordinary but stoney broke lads from the fictional town of Ballydermot came to do The Full Monty!Yes girls, it was all on show at the Mullingar Arts Centre last Thursday night as the hit musical opened to an appreciative audience.The Full Monty production is packed with great music and tremendously funny one-liners and I'd advise anyone looking for a good laugh to purchase their tickets to see the remaining three shows (from tomorrow, Thursday, to Saturday).Directed by Sean Lynch, the story centres on best friends Jerry Lacey (Aidan Ennis) and Dave Butler (Richie Geoghegan) who have been laid off and decide to sneak into a Chippendales show organised by their wives - in Jerry's case, ex-wife.When they bump into one of the main acts Keno (Chris Corroon), they decide it's the fastest way to make a few euro, and so embark on a hilarious auditioning process to get a team of male strippers together.Despite some opening night nerves, the pace got going as more and more characters were introduced. Aidan Ennis and Richie Geoghegan were strong in their roles as unemployed 30-somethings. They shared some poignant moments, full of black humour, especially in numbers such as Big Ass Rock and Man.Standing out were newcomers Steve Hartland singing the jazzy Big Black Man - adding in some great moves along the way and really getting the audience going - and Malcolm McGreggor singing You Walk With Me.There were some great numbers from the women too, including Georgina's (Niamh O'Shea) Tonight It's a Woman's World, and in particular Collette Dunning as Vickie, another newcomer with a fabulous voice, who truly rocked Life with Harold.Liam Gilleran did a fine job in the role of the bumbling Harold, making an amazing job of the duet with Richie Geoghegan, when You Rule My World came round in act two.Comedic moments were provided by the hilarious Valerie Moore, who played the eccentric Jeanette, as well as Paul McDermott, who made his debut on stage as Ethan. High praise really must go to the brave Chris Corroon as Keno, who, let's just say, left little to the imagination!Best of the ensemble numbers were Michael Jordan's Ball.The band - Paul Whelan, Darragh Caffrey, Jackie O'Hehir, Joe Keane, Paul Kiernan, Adrian Kelly and Joe Murray, and directed by Angie Lynch - delivered on the high powered musical moments as well as the slower and more serious ones.The set, made up of projected snapshots of Mullingar, left a lot to be desired I'm afraid. The only good scene was a smart car, designed by the talented Neil Selby, which in itself, delivered shedloads of comedy. Perhaps it would work better if the images were reflected on a 180-degree curved screen.Nevertheless, The Full Monty is a story about real people with their own insecurities, whether it's their bodies or their futures, and is a storyline apt to the current economic climate. Full of good fun and laughter, The Full Monty will put you in good form for the night, if not the week.The Full Monty runs at the Mullingar Arts Centre from Thursday October 11 to Saturday 13 at 8pm. Tickets (â¬15 and â¬12) from 044 9347777, open Monday to Friday, 9am-9.30pm, and Saturday, 9am-6pm.