The Full Monty, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury - review
For one week only The Full Monty is baring all at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.
And its not just their bodies that the blokes from Sheffield bare but their souls as well.
The characters, created by Simn Beaufoy, are trying their best to cope with being made redundant when the steelworks close in the late 1990s.
They hit on the idea of putting on a male strip show and the rest - is cinematic history.
The smash hit film was made into a stage play which first came to Shrewsbury two years ago and was so popular it is making a return visit this week.
It must be hard playing characters who are so well known on the big screen but the actors more than do them justice.
Gary Lucy of Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice plays loveable rogue Gaz, while north Wales actor Kai Owen - who plays Rhys in Torchwood - takes on the role of his best mate, Dave.
Horse is played by Louis Emerick, Guy by James Redmond, Lomper by Joe Gill and Gerald by Andrew Dunn.
All six brought out the pathos of their characters while still giving the audience a laugh a minute.
From Dave's weight to Gerald refusing to tell his wife he was redundant their stories were all a poignant reminder of the hard times the steelworkers faced.
But it was Nathan, Gaz's son, played by Frazer Kelly, that shone on stage, a perfect foil for the older actors.
A supporting cast is lead by Liz Carney as Jean, winner of the best accent on the night, and the result is a laugh till your sides ache night out, certainly not for the prudish but equally all done "in the best possible taste".
Of course, just like on the big screen, the story culminates in the strip show in front of a baying audience.
The Shrewsbury theatre goers suddenly found themselves part of the production as the audience in the working man's club waiting for the strippers to appear.
And yes, the lads really do bare all.
