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36 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 22, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Stage West's Full Monty is full of laughs By Rod Jerred OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Stage West Mississauga may have saved the best show for its 100th production. While I haven't witnessed all the previous 99 productions, it's safe to say Stage West's current production of The Full Monty definitely ranks among the top. For entertainment and laugh- Check Out Our FIM Umbrellas ter, it is one of the top shows in recent years at Stage West. Based on the movie of the same title, The Full Monty, this bold and brassy musical follows six down-on-their-luck unemployed working class guys who come up with an ingenious way to make cash. If you have seen the movie, fear not, you won't be bored. Far from it. Much of this is due to David Yazbek's music and lyrics. Songs such as Big Ass Rock and Big Black Man had the audience rolling in the aisles. While The Full Monty has serious undertones about unemployment and the toll it takes an ordinary working class man, the Stage West version never forgets it's a comedy about the absurdity of six out-of-shape, out-of-work British men taking their clothes off for money. Stephen Patterson, as Jerry Lukowski, and Brad Borbridge, as Dave Bukatinsky, play the two lead roles, and while they have their moments, Patterson in Breeze Off the River, and Borbridge in Big Ass Rock, it's really the strong supporting cast that is key to The Full Monty's Success. A familiar face at Stage West, Shawn Wright shines as Harold Nichols, the former plant supervisor, who can't bring himself to telling his wife he is unemployed and winds up finding salvation with the line workers he used to look down upon. Mark Allan, last seen at Stage West Mississauga in Forever Plaid, is hilarious as the shy awkward -- and sometimes suicidal, Malcolm MacGregor. The high energy Matt Murray also earns his share of laughs every time he tries to reproduce Donald O'Connor's famous back flip from Singing in the Rain. Let's just say he has mixed results. Mantee Murphy Jr. makes the most of his role as Noah "Horse" T. Simmons, especially on Big Black Man. In the supporting roles as the wives, Denise Oucharek, Georgia Bukatinsky and Eliza-Jane Scott, as Pam Lukowski, turn in solid performances. When it comes to stealing scenes, however, no one does it better than veteran Mary Ellen Ashley, as Jeanette Burmeister, the piano player. On stage since the age of four when she played next to Ethel merman in Annie Get Your Gun, Ashley knows how to milk out every line from her character. As for the finale when the audience finally learns whether the actors actually perform The Full Monty, we don't want to spoil the ending, so we'll just say, "You won't be disappointed." Escape to paradise THIS WEEKEND ONLY, GET 6 MONTHS NO INTEREST, NO PAYMENTS, OAC ON ALL IN STOCK ORDERS Also Save Big $$$ On Pre-Orders For FALL DELIVERIES Rose Celebration Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Hendrie Park Gardens Celebrate the classical beauty of the Gardens' two acres of roses in full bloom. Enjoy children's crafts and activities, guided SPONSORED BY tours and Discovery Cart, BBQ and refreshments, live music and more. THE SPIRIT OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP The Auxiliary of RBG Used Bulb Sale Saturday, June 23; 9:30 a.m. to noon; Arboretum Start planning your autumn planting season -- bulb sale features spring-flowering bulbs taken from the Rock Garden collection. Cash, Visa, MasterCard and cheques are accepted. Picnics in Paradise Weekends, now until Labour Day.; Arboretum Pack a picnic* and the family -- visit the Nature Interpretive Centre, hand feed the chickadees and chipmunks (feed available by donation), enjoy the wide-open grass areas for games and family fun, and take a hike along the Cootes Paradise trails. *Sorry, no barbequing. Tranquil Thursdays Thursdays, June and July; 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Laking Garden Reflect and rejuvenate -- enjoy live classical music, stroll the gardens and see the paintings of local artists (art for sale). Wine and beer available. Dundas St. 2000 Appleby Line Appleby Line 2379 Trafalgar Road (Winner's Plaza) Trafalgar Ridge Plaza Dundas St. BECOME A MEMBER Benefits include free admission to the Post ridge Dr. (Millcroft Shopping Centre) Millcroft Plaza East Side Mario's LCBO Upper Middle 905-315-7800 905-257-5006 Upper Middle www.thesundancespastore.com Trafalgar Burlington Oakville Gardens, preferred access to Royal Botanical Gardens' special events, plus discounts on programs, camps and at the gift shop and Café, and more. An annual membership starts at only $50. Sign up or renew your membership at www.rbg.ca. FREE G IN PARK Visit www.rbg.ca for full details. RBG Centre 680 Plains Road West, Hamilton/Burlington, Ontario · 905-527-1158