Tough challenge is given Full Monty (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Tough challenge is given Full Monty

8:50am Monday 29th June 2009

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The Full Monty
Overton Dramatic Society
St Mary’s Hall, Overton

SOME might think that attempting a show that was such a colossal cinematic hit would be rather ambitious for a village – but Overton Dramatic Society met and exceeded this challenge.

From the opening artistic gyrations to A Girls’ Night Out, the show buzzed all evening.

The show was directed by Helen Fields and Richard Simms, and with 28 different scenes closely following the film’s plot, the set construction was a work of art in itself – The Men’s Loo at the club being particularly ingenious. Scene changes were deftly executed.

The Hot Metal strippers, desperate to earn money following redundancy, were a strong team throughout, with well-honed characterisations from each individual.

The main thread of the story rested upon the experienced shoulders of seasoned ODS actors Dave McLaren and Paul Robinson, as Jerry and his less confident mate, Dave.

Matthew Sims took the role of Jerry’s young son, Nathan, and the pair’s father and son scenes were natural and touching. There were some great one-liners from the strippers’ rehearsal pianist, Jeanette Burmeister (Jill Smith).

Of the many great songs, three really stood out for me. Firstly, Life with Harold, sung with aplomb by Gabrielle Esplin, as Vicki Nichols.

Robert Bailey and Andy Tungate, performing as Hot Metallers Malcolm and Ethan, sang an especially poignant duet You Walk with Me at Malcolm’s mother’s funeral, and as for the glorious finale number, Let it Go. Well, they did – creating an electrifying atmosphere.

It was difficult to distinguish between the screaming actors dotted around the auditorium and the audience! Phew!

–Meg Green

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