The Oakland's 'Full Monty' is great on all levels
"The Full Monty"
- When: Friday, May 2, 2008, 8 p.m.
- Where: The Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 West Boardman St., Youngstown
- Cost: $10 - $15
- Age limit: All ages
YOUNGSTOWN – Workers are laid off, trying to make ends meet and repair broken homes.
No, it's not your family, it's "The Full Monty" at the Oakland Center for Arts.
The opening performance Friday night was absolutely stunning and flawless, as the standing ovation from a packed house indicated.
On all levels, this production is especially great. Ric Panning as Jerry Lukowski is about the most realistic casting I've ever seen. Tony Scarsella as Dave Bukatinsky is also great, turning on a moment's notice from hilarious to tragic.
Among the rest of the guys, Dave Munnell as Molcom Macgregor and Gary Shackleford as Ethan Girard are also perfectly cast, taking roles that could be taken over-the-top right to that point where they're still believable (albeit, quirky) characters. Brandon Smith as Harold and Sheridan Sullivan as Reg also find that line to deliver great performances.
The most hilarious song of the evening award goes to "Big Ass Rock," in which Panning and Scarsella sing a ballad about suicide to Munell, wooing him as a friend. Certainly, a large portion of credit goes to David Yazbeck's lyrics, but there's something undeniably funny about the sincerity Panning and Scarsella have about killing Munnell out of frienship.
Heidi Davis pulls off the most intense multi-tasking I've ever seen in theater, doubling as the flutist in the orchestra and Scarsella's wife, Vicki. Onstage, she dances and sings beautifully, before returning to her chair in the orchestra, picking up the flute and playing an unusually hard musical score.
With that in mind, credit also goes to musical director John A. Smiley, with drummer Steven Ley and bassist Bethany Mathews (of local band Modern Life) for handling the complex parts "The Fully Monty" score features.
Choreography by Richard Bell throughout the performance was absolutely perfect, both in plan and the performers' execution. One of the most notable numbers was "Life With Harold," but Kenneth Brown's mostly solo number of "Big Black Man" has set a new bar in local musicals. Brown's talent is undeniable, as he looked totally at ease doing classic and current dance moves — and doing them right.
The cast of female vocalists was very strong, including Alecia Sarkis as Georgie Bukatinsky, Anna Frabutt as Jeanette Burmeister, Juleah Buttermore as Estelle, Nicole Zayas as Susan and Nikita and Joyce Jones.
Suzanne Shorrab as Jerry's wife, Pam, didn't do any singing (at least onstage) but played the very pivotal role beautifully. There was a very palpable feeling of bitterness, sadness and chemistry lost between her and Panning. Their feelings felt real, drawing the audience in on a level many can relate to.
Joey Monda as Panning's son Nathan also brought another level of realism to the production, playing the 15-year-old going on 48 dead-on.
"The Full Monty" is a very charismatic show that is well-directed, well-choreographed and well-performed. You'll be cheering for male strippers by the end, if that's not something you'd do anyway.
Comments
Wow Katie. You must have watched a totally different production than Milan Paurich. He called the show "too long, lackluster, curiously listless, rudimentary, mediocre, and miscast." CLEARLY you are mistaken. This is the worst show ever performed in Youngstown. I know the cast got a standing ovation both nights this weekend...but it must have been because people were in a hurry to leave.
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I always wonder why not a lot of people come to audition for shows in this area. Then I read the vindy review and realized, why would anyone want to even try COMMUNITY THEATER, when their just going to get there ass handed to them on a silver platter by Milan. It takes a lot for someone to put their self out there, and try. It's sad it takes so little to overmind that. Everyone is great and I love watching the show come to life everynight. And from what I have heard the audiences love it to.
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Not to take anything away from the above review, and to put in my two cents on the direction this comment thread is going... I can only forgive those people that have such a strong sense of stereotypical thinking and lack of creative imagination and then use those traits to make public statements and call it journalism. This problem is not just seen in reviews of community theater. Of course, I guess that is what makes America the free country it is. Thank goodness that there are still thinking people out there that ignore such prejudicial thinking. Thanks to Oakland for not producing another standard, safe musical, which usually runs 100 minutes +, is definitely dated and cast with the same 20- somethings.
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I'm looking forward to seeing the show this weekend and a review isn't going to sway me one way or the other--I think this is true of most folks. Also, I think people need to realize that you can't have the proverbially cake and eat it, too. "Dog Sees God" got a great review from Paurich. He gave this one a bad one. Is he only right when he's praising? Take his criticisms for what they're worth and move on to produce great things. We can't expect critics to love us like our mothers (or like we wish our mothers would). One more point--"absolutely stunning and flawless" from the above review doesn't make me confident of a reviewer's critical eye and sounds a little over the top. Again, I look forward to seeing it and making up my own mind. I think others will, too. Good luck.
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Check out the other reviews where I've torn shows apart before. Friday's performance was stunning. It was also missing typical opening night mistakes, like technical errors and minor line flubs. I have nothing to lose by saying a show sucked. Why can't I just say a show was great if it was?
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It's not your judgment I question, just the language you use to describe it--the same way that "torn shows apart" seems overly dramatic. Can't wait to see the show, though. I'm a fan of the Oakland and their verve and nerve!
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Ugh!
Terrible, terrible writing. What grade are you in anyway, Missie?
How nice of you to say such effusively nice, gushy (albeit dishonest) things about your Valley-24 buddy Joki's show.
ut I saw "The Full Monty" last weekend and it was anything but "flawless."
Milan's Vindicator mixed (not unfavorable, folks: why do you Oakland babies love dwelling on the negative all the time?) review was definitely more accurate.
Btw, does somebody actually pay you to write such drivel? You obviously know zilch about theater or journalism.
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I think it is very interesting that you accuse Katie Libecco of being biased for giving a good review...but are completely unwilling to accept that Milan may be biased in giving the show a bad one. Incidentally, Katie and I know each other on a professional level. If her intent was to say "gushy, effusively nice" things about her "valley-24 buddy"...why didn't she? I am not mentioned in this article.
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I guess Milan was biased when he gave a good review to "Dog Sees God," and wrote such kind things about your direction two months ago.
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Check your facts. Milan's reviews said little or nothing about my direction and were filled with back handed compliments. My frustration has nothing to do with what Milan did or did not say about me. It has to do with a growing negative influence and counterproductive mentality that keeps both local theaters and individual performances from achieving their true potential.
Score:
Hey, Joki- You should take any compliment you can get. I've seen a few of your shows, and you ain't "all that," bud.
"Santaland Diaries" didn't seem "directed" at all. Both of your actors seemed like they were out there on their own without any guidance whatsoever.
Good thing you have YSU intern pals to gush all over your "flawless," "charmistic" productions.
It also continues to amuse me that you and your acolytes continue to refer to the Vindicator review as "terrible." It was a mixed review, Joki & Co. Heaven forbid that you had actually gotten a flat-out pan.
P.S.= Note to Katie: "Charismatic" is an adjective used to describe a person or performance (e.g., "Martina is a very charismatic person," or "Robert Downey Jr. gave a wildly charismatic performance in 'Iron Man.'")
It is not, however, used to describe a stage production. That's not only bad English/grammar, it's bad writing period.
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I'd respond but I'm exhausted. The show sold out AGAIN tonight...and I stayed after for almost two hours talking to theater patrons about how much fun they had. Hey, fedup...how did your night go?
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I had a most charismatic evening, Joki. Thanks for asking.
And tell YSU intern Katie "hi" for me.
(Is she one of your "planted" audience members chortling like they're at the 1933 premiere of
"Duck Soup"?)
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I just want to take a moment to thank fedup for keeping these message boards going. The more hateful comments he leaves...the more free publicity we get for downtown Youngstown's new hit musical... THE FULL MONTY, which is playing for only two more nights: Friday May 16th and Saturday May 17th, at 8PM, at the Oakland Center for the Arts. Call for reservations ASAP. 330 746 0404 These shows will sell out!
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