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The cast of Stampede's 'The Full Monty'

Rachel O'Connor reviews The Full Monty'; by Stampede Theatre Company at Yeadon Town Hall.

IT was all about the lighting you know. Yes the men in Yeadon's The Full Monty' really did bare all but discreet lighting meant the audience, packed with women, had barely more than a glance.

Mind you the courageous souls who were brave enough to strip off in front of a room full of mostly baying women must have been having second thoughts about whether the lighting would protect them when there was a power cut just as the show was getting underway on Wednesday night!

They sat nervously on stage for around 20 minutes until the lighting was fully restored.

What a responsibility there was on those operating the lights who had to hit the switch at just the right moment at the finale of the show to protect the men's blushes!

Not so much a mixed audience for this latest offering by the hugely talented Stampede Theatre Company - more a ladies (and that term is used loosely!) night out.

The atmosphere was quite raucous and bawdy as the men strutted their stuff on stage. There seemed to be an unholy atmosphere of eager anticipation!

What a tester for the men who knew that their wives, girlfriends, mothers, aunties, daughters and workmates as well as neighbours were out there in the audience.

Still Stampede have made a name for brave and bold theatre and there is a touch of class about all they do.

Anyone going along expecting the South Yorkshire film version of this steel city saga would be in for a disappointment.

This was the stage version complete with all American accents well carried out by the cast for the entirety of the show - no slipping back into the vernacular from these oh so professional thespians.

This was a piece of Americanised theatre adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name.

Six unemployed steelworkers low on cash and prospects decide to present a strip show at a local club to raise some money.

They are six every day guys each with their own problems brought about by unemployment and a lack of self esteem.

Director Royston Bayfield and his cast had worked very hard to demonstrate each man's insecurities.

Phil Yeadon was superb in the lead role of Jerry Lukowski - the adoring father striving to raise enough money to keep contact with his son after his marriage split.

Yeadon fully demonstrated all the emotions of the role, showing great empathy with his character.

The singing all round was different from the norm with the songs difficult for the cast initially in rehearsal to get a grip on but they had worked hard and performed superbly with Yeadon outstanding in his solo number Breeze Off The River'.

He and his five stripping colleagues excelled in numbers such as Scrap'; his duet with Richard Lloyd (Dave) in Man'; and Big Ass Rock' with Richard and Shaun Robinson (Malcolm).

The men did not have it all their own way either - although You Walk With Me' by Shaun MacGregor and Ben Tomlinson was something of a showstopper.

The ladies of the cast were feisty, fun and well just downright feminine in a show that is dominated by the men and their feelings.

The women have their own back stories which impact on the men's lives and these roles were beautifully played by Lisa Colman as Georgie Bukatinsky, Rachel Sowerby as Pam Lukowski, Julie Kettlewell as Jeanette Burmeister (a real cameo this) and Laura Judge as Vicki Nichols.

Central to the production was the role of Nathan, Jerry's son, and this was played with great confidence by young Bradley Judge, a Year 10 student at Bingley Grammar School who already has a wealth of acting experience behind him.

But of course the crux of this whole show is based on the acting, singing and dancing abili-ties of the strippers' and Stampede certainly gathered a really talented crew that had just that little extra to offer - bravery.

It was a brave thing to volunteer to take your clothes off in front of an audience of women, many of whom you know in your everyday life, or are they all really just showmen who had been waiting a lifetime for this opportunity!

They certainly faced the chal-lenge head on and threw themselves into it wholeheartedly.

Richard Lloyd - what more can one say about this talented man?

The role of Dave Bukatinsky was just another splendid effort to roll off his production line.

Peter Stebbings is another well-known on the local circuit but even he must have wondered at the state of his mind when he agreed to take on the role of Harold Nichols.

He poured all his theatrical experience into the role and perhaps showed us another side to his character - and not just his backside!

Robin Reid brought bags of humour and talent while Ben Tomlinson was another who literally worked his socks off to provide a superb night's entertainment.

Shaun Robinson as the hapless Mummy's boy Malcolm struck a note with all the mother hens' in the audience with a superb portrayal.

There were strong performances all round from a theatre company quickly establishing a name for high quality enter-tainment.

The main characters were well backed up by Adam Folkard, Simon Monte, Georgina Midgeley, Melanie Humphries, Janet Smith, Loretta Marklew, Paul Bamber, Ann Garnett, Sarah Fowler, Caroline Bright and Jamie Wilkinson who carried off a multitude of supporting roles with great aplomb.

It was a rip roaring, colourful show full of laughter and excellent performances which sent the audience home happy.

Another triumph for the multi-talented Director Royston Bayfield, Musical Director Tom Kyle and Choreographer Donna Woodman backed by a plethora of talented back stage helpers.

Bravo the brave men of Stampede.

8:24am Monday 25th February 2008

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