Riverside goes for ‘The Full Monty’

David Pope performs during a dress rehearsal of The Full Monty at the Riverside Dinner Theater on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The show will run until April 28. (ELIJAH NOUVELAGE / THE FREE LANCE-STAR)

BY BRIDGET BALCH / FOR THE FREE LANCE–STAR

MOVE OVER, MAGIC MIKE! There’s a new act in town, and these guys are willing to go all the way.

“The Full Monty,” a musical adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, will expose itself at Riverside Dinner Theater through April 28.

“It’s a show that’s a lot of fun—a lot of laughs,” said Patrick A’Hearn, the show’s director. “People think that it’s just men stripping, [but] it’s much more than that.”

The musical tells the story of six men from Buffalo, N.Y., who are struggling to make ends meet. Jerry Lukowski is particularly desperate for money since he has been unable to make child support payments to his ex-wife since losing his job and is at risk of losing visitation rights to his son, Nathan.

Upon seeing the overwhelming response the local women have to a Chippendale’s striptease show, Jerry comes up with the idea to start a show of his own, but taking it a step further. He and his fellow unemployed men will go “the full monty.” That is to say, they won’t leave anything for the imagination.

Jerry and his best friend Dave Bukatinski set out to recruit men to join their act, bringing together an odd and hilarious collection of unlikely performers. As they prepare to premiere their show, each man must face his insecurities and anxieties—from body image issues to depression—with the help of the odd friendships that only the intimacy of sharing themselves so freely with each other could form.

A’Hearn believes that the show, as well as being comical and entertaining, speaks to more serious issues that anyone can relate to, especially dealing with unemployment in today’s economy.

The show also addresses such issues as materialism, homosexuality, fathers’ rights and suicide, all through the personal experiences of the characters.

“The Full Monty” is, however, first and foremost a comedy.

“I can’t stress what a fun show this is,” said Jeremiah Zinger, who plays the lead role of Jerry. “It almost reads like a long sitcom because the jokes are just nonstop.”

Zinger, who has toured nationally with the Broadway production of “The Full Monty,” said he never gets tired of the role.

“It’s one of the best male roles you could possibly get,” Zinger said.

He emphasized that the audience should come to the show with an open mind. Many people see that the musical is about male strippers and immediately write it off.

“The hardest thing about this show is to get guys to want to come and see it,” Zinger said.

“They don’t want to see guys take their clothes off, and I don’t blame them.”

However, according to Zinger, these guys are missing out on a show that is just as much for them as it is for the ladies. Zinger said that men have approached him after the performance to tell him that their wives dragged them along, but it turned out to be the best show they had ever seen.

Joining Zinger and the local actors onstage is a special appearance by actress Sally Struthers from “All in the Family” and “Gilmore Girls” fame.

Also a “Full Monty” veteran, Struthers plays the role of Jeanette Burmeister, a sassy, showbiz musician who coaches the boys in their striptease routines. Jeanette’s straightforward critiques both motivate and contribute to the guys’ mounting insecurities.

“I’m particularly fond of this show,” said Struthers. “You get to see a picture of each of the character’s lives They’ve all got problems in their lives. That’s what it’s really about, them taking their clothes off at the end is incidental.”

Struthers is very impressed with the performances of each of her costars.

“Sometimes people don’t recognize the talent they have locally,” Struthers said. “They’re brave. I don’t think I could do what they’re doing—taking their shirts off and walking around in their skivvies.”

Struthers is also excited that Riverside is employing a live six-piece band to accompany the performers.

“The audience is getting the full package and they’re getting it here—they don’t have to go to New York,” said Struthers.

And although it might be best to leave the kids with a babysitter for this one, there’s no need to fear an X-rated show.

“There’s nothing salacious,” said A’Hearn.

“It’s just fun,” Zinger said. “PG-13 at worst—there’s nothing in the show that you wouldn’t be watching on TV.”

Bridget Balch is a freelance writer and senior at the University of Mary Washington.