David Yazbek wants a Full Monty revival

I would love this too (I always felt like this show deserved better and was unfairly swallowed up by The Producers juggernaut) but is there a demand for this otherwise?

ljay889 said: "https://twitter.com/davidyazbek/status/834044447985905665

How great would that be? The show is pure fun, I think we all could use a little fun. I think it's been long enough since the original for a new production. Plus I'm sure they could get some decent names for Jerry and Jeanette. Who would you like to see in a new production?"

Seems like this might be a more suitable candidate for an Encores production --- or even next year's one-night MCP Benefit --- than for a full scale Broadway revival. If they go the "special event" route --- how about Lily Tomlin as "Jeanette"?

ljay889 said: "https://twitter.com/davidyazbek/status/834044447985905665

How great would that be? The show is pure fun, I think we all could use a little fun. I think it's been long enough since the original for a new production. Plus I'm sure they could get some decent names for Jerry and Jeanette. Who would you like to see in a new production?



"

James Snyder as Jerry. Mary Tests as Jeanette

You forgot to include this tweet as well---- Tweet Tweet

Seems unlikely, but so did Side Show. And the poor guy does need money...

I wonder if his Bruce Lee and Animal House musicals are dead?

Updated On: 2/21/17 at 02:03 PM

newintown said: "Seems unlikely, but so did Side Show. And the poor guy does need money...

I wonder if his Bruce Lee and Animal House musicals are dead?"



Comparing it to Side Show is not really the best example. The Full Monty ran for nearly two years and according to Playbill it did recoup before it closed, so it was officially a hit. It's also been a very successful and popular title for regional and summer companies (a production I did back in 2007 quickly became the top selling production in that company's history, and they just brought it back a couple years ago to the same success). So it would not really surprise me to see someone attempt to revive it at some point.

I love David Yazbek and adore the score. It's one of my go-to recordings (I have a disc for the car with Monty, DRS, and Women on the Verge). However, I've found it to be unsatisfying onstage because of its clunky book - in my opinion, of course. I like the characters and find them well-developed and I'd have to watch again to pin down exactly where I felt the writing went wrong. Yet, both times I went in, expecting to like it a lot and left "meh."

Does anyone here feel similarly and is able to pin down what's missing?

...and I agree that Jackie Hoffman would be a great Jeanette. Especially since that role can support a lot of scenery chewing.

Updated On: 2/21/17 at 10:46 PM

I know. Restage The Fully Monty .... in a circus! or an insane asylum!

TMG - It may very well, indeed, be the productions I've seen and/or my attitude at the time. (The most recent production I saw was a shoestring local production about 5 years ago, and had a very weak Jerry).

I hadn't thought too much about it earlier, besides the usual "didn't love the evening but love the score, so it must be the book" logic. I recall thinking that some of the plot development was obvious and unearned, but that's actually pretty common in musicals - esp in the second act. Most importantly, in thinking about it, I realized that the characters are well developed and interesting. ...and although his prodigious work is occasionally uneven, it's not as if Terrence McNally is an untrained hack.

Oh well. I'll probably see it again some time, even if only to enjoy the songs.

Mister Matt said: "That woman shouldn't be allowed to be in the AUDIENCE of a Broadway show (let alone on stage)!

WTF?



"

I thought that she was great in Xanadu. But, I haven't seen her in much else.

I love the score for his humor, clever rhymes, and bouncy beat. It's a fun score. Will it ever reduce me to tears like just a few bars from numerous Sondheim tunes will? Of course not. But I love playing it in the background or singing along in the car to "Life WIth Harold," "Jeannette's Big Showbiz Number" or "Big Black Man."

Updated On: 2/22/17 at 06:57 PM