Full Monty Directorial Question

[directorkid]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:59pm

I'm directing a small production of the Full Monty as part of a local community theater's question. I'm struggling with I am going to go about making the cast comfortable with the nudity. Has anyone been in the show or know how to original broadway cast went about do this? Thanks for the help!
M.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:25pm

Well, being an actor I can tell you how I would be comfortable with it. Don't make them do it until you have the lighting to back it up. Then they run offstage and have bath robes waiting for them. So, really no one sees them, lol. Although if youre on the sides you can see the sillouette. hehe But, If I was performing in it, I would be comfortable with that situation. They MUST be comfortable in their boxers however, because thats what most of the show is.

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:19pm

I'm of the complete opposite camp; I think whenever you have something that the actors might be "Dreading" like nudity, it's best to do it head on. I'd have them naked at the first rehearsal. They are only going to get comfortable by doing it over and over-- if you postpone it and build up to it too much you empower it. It needs to be "BFD, drop them shorts!"

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:34am

I agree with Joe - just one rehearsal say "Guys, let's get this over with." They agreed to do the show in the first place knowing very well what was involved - you think they'll actually have a problem with it?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:51am

Maybe host a party for the guys and have them relax naked or go to a nude beach or campground together so they see there is no big deal. It really isn't. In this day and age nudity in films and on stage is pretty commonplace. The one reaction that most guys worry about won't be an issue if they are relexed and comfortable. Maybe if the actors can do it, encourage them to do as much inside their homes nude as possible so they get used to the feeling.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:53am

they are nakes for two seconds and run offstage and get a bathrobe. Theres no need AT ALL, I think, to fuss over nakedness. NO ONE sees them except maybe the dresser who is used to seeing nakedness.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:04am

As I recall, the original cast didn't do the actual "full monty" until the final dress. I wish I could find the interview I read that in, but that's what I remember. They just all collectively took a deep breath and went out and did it when they finally had to.

Updated On: 7/10/05 at 02:04 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:19am

get em naked asap and get it over with. also when it comes time for the show get rid of that lighting effect. it's cheap and false advertisement. the show is called the full monty. we should at least get to see that for two seconds before the lights go out without any backlighting obstructing our view. that was lame ass...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:24am

I disagree....

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 4:39am

As an actor, I would do it in Dress with the lighting and all. No need to make them walk around naked and have everyone see them, when in reality, almost nobody will be seeing them.

[mpaosong]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 5:37am

I know someone who was in the original cast. The nudity was handled very carefully and only starting at the 1st dress. Days before they opened in San Diego. I think if you approach it with repect, they will respond.

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:43am

I should add-- It depends on how the nudity will be presented on stage. Since you asked, I assumed the nudity would be of the "more visisble" type, not just two seconds, concealed with lighting.

If they AREN'T going to be seen by the audience naked then yeah, I'd say the project was more about reassuring them that they weren't ever going to be seen naked and making them feel confortable at that.

I've seen (And heard) of productions handling this in various ways. I hope you made it crystal clear in audtions how it's going to work and what will be seen-- butt, full-frontal or nothing at all.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:39pm

Also if you were going to make them get naked and stuff in the first rehearsals, no offense I would think you are a pervert and doing the show just to see everyone naked.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:07pm

That's because you are a horny bastahd, CATS....just kidding!

No, I thought it was very clever how they did it. It also made it better because the point of the show is not to see naked men....I guess, for some, it would be a perk....

The point of the show is to have 6 men trying to earn money doing a strip tease...and seeing how each reacts.

Harold - the rich foreman who hasn't told his wife that he lost his job.

Dave - the token overweight guy, ashamed of his appearance.

Jerry - He wants to see his son, and only cares about his son. His driving force through the show is to see his son..."Breeze Off the River"

Noah "Horse" - the token black man who isn't "token" at all. He was hired because he is black and because of the stereotypes.

Malcolm - was the security guard at the factory, until he lost his job. Supporting his mother. Gay.

Ethan - not a very big character. Turns into Malcolm's "boyfriend." He is used as comic relief when he runs into walls. He was hired because he is well endowed.

Don't let your actors lose sight of this, worrying about the final strip.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:39pm

I'm actually in "The Full Monty" (as Harold) right now--well, in a few hours, I won't be...we play the final performance at 2 pm today.

We do get naked onstage, but we, like the Broadway production, use special lighting to keep the audience from seeing anything. The Broadway show used a blurring front-lighting effect that made the strippers unable to be seen from the waist-down. We, on the other hand, use back-lighting and have us all of the sudden go into sillouette (sp?). However, I'm told that if you're sitting way on the side of the theater you still have a pretty good view...

Anyway, the director let the six of us decide together whether we were actually going to be naked (or have flesh-colored thongs on). We were all fine with going "all the way," but I think that it was good of him to let the decision be up to us, and I would suggest the same approach to future directors of the show.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 3:01pm

The tour definitley had the back lighting where you could see the sillouette's of the actors. It sounds like you're doing it, or did, it like the tour. Because I was on the very sides of the theatre and could see some side sillouettes, lol. ONLY show I enjoyed from off to the side, lol.