Looking for some hot stuff baby next week? You’re in luck, the cast of The Full Monty are at the Ipswich Regent.
Actor Gary Lucy reveals all, stop it, to entertainment writer Wayne Savage
Let’s cut straight to the chase. What was it like that first time he and the rest of the cast had to go the full monty in front of everybody?
“It was worse in rehearsals than it was on stage where there’s some very clever lighting and it’s choreographed really well. In rehearsals there’s no lighting, you’re literally, excuse my terminology, b*****k naked. Weird? That’s one word for it,” he laughs.
“We’ve had a few mishaps and lighting issues. The first week in Manchester when they were still testing it, audiences got slightly more than they bargained for; but at the end of the day they all went home with a smile on their face.”
I can think of a few ladies keeping their fingers crossed for technical difficulties. The promotional shots, see right, I was sent of the former Hollyoaks and The Bill star raised some eyebrows as I opened them.
“I’m surprised they didn’t send you one with us showing our a***s; that’s the iconic pose isn’t it,” he laughs before temporarily halting the interview to help an old lady off the train. His gentlemanly behaviour continues when we pick things back up, not correcting me when I say I watched him in Dream Team. I meant Footballers’ Wives.
The Full Monty is Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy’s first work for the theatre, having penned the original BAFTA winning 1997 movie as well as the likes of 127 Hours, Salmon Fishing in Yemen, Slumdog Millionaire and The Hunger Games Catching Fire.
The story of six out of work Sheffield steelworkers who, with nothing to lose, form a strip act, has been playing to packed houses.
The role of Gaz, played by Robert Carlyle in the movie, marks Lucy’s stage debut. It’s a big part to take on, no pun intended. He admits to being both excited and nervous.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity, a lead in a fantastic show written by an Oscar winner, directed by award-winner Roger Haines (whose recent credits include the world premiere of the musical The Go-Between, which won the UK Theatre Awards Best Musical Award and the national tour of Calendar Girls)... I’m relishing it.”
The cast also includes Dinnerladies’ Andrew Dunn, Brookside’s Louis Emerick, Coronation Street’s Rupert Hill, Martin Miller and Bobby Schofield.
“Andrew’s a fantastic actor, Louis, numerous others; it’s a really strong cast. I know it sounds like a cliché but we’re very lucky to have a really good group of lads and girls in the cast. We get on which is very fortunate because if you’re in a show like this and you didn’t it would be quite tough going... They’ve lots of stage experience and help any time I needed it, I’ve great support.”
The play - which also features songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones - is a fun night out says Lucy, adding audiences often get rowdy.
“It’s a rollercoaster. There are some really dark moments, but everyone leaves with a smile on their face. You can lose yourself a bit in these guys and the journey they take, people are crying with laughter, having a great time and we obviously feed off that atmosphere so it’s great.”
The Full Monty is at the Ipswich Regent March 23-28.
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