By Parker McKenzie
The cult classic film The Full Monty will finally reach the stage in Cranbourne East when the long postponed theatrical adaption by BATS Theatre Company is performed in November.
The movie– about unemployed steel workers who decide to strip to make ends meet – was first adapted for the stage in 2014 by Simon Beaufoy and will now be performed at the Cranbourne Community Theatre.
Despite starting production in 2020, a snap lockdown postponed the show from July to August.
After another lengthy lockdown in Victoria postponed the show indefinitely a second time, Director Michelle Zintschenko is relieved to finally be able to bring the show to life.
“We started rehearsing in April this year, but we actually held our auditions in March last year,” Michelle says.
“We just need this to happen for the cast and for everybody involved,”
While she has directed shows outside of BATS Theatre Company, her biggest worry leading up to the opening night is a new experience.
“I’ve directed a lot of school shows mostly, but really there isn’t much of a difference between teenagers and a predominately male cast,” she says.
“My first hope is everyone still fits into their costume, especially with the lead gentlemen having their costumes tailored to – spoiler alert – come off in the end.”
One of the gentlemen hoping to still fit into his costume is Mark Christie, who is playing the lead role of Gaz – played by Robert Carlyle in the film – and he says taking his clothes off in front of an audience will be a new experience.
“Other than rehearsal it will be the first time,” Mark says.
“I mean who doesn’t want to get on stage and their clothes off?”
For stage actors like Mark the pandemic has been time away from what he loves.
“To get back on stage is nice and we’ve but so much work into the show,” he says.
“Lockdowns haven’t been ideal, but we are just looking forward to getting back into it.”
The cast haven’t returned for their first in person rehearsal yet, but the director has kept them busy with Zoom rehearsals.
“I told them not to use their scripts, but I definitely spotted a few of them watching off screen,” she says.
The show is currently sold out on 2 of the 4 nights, although BATS theatre company are hoping to release more tickets once density limits are confirmed as restrictions ease.
“Most of the tickets went to people who really supported us, but we are we hoping to release more once we get closer to the date and restrictions change,” Michelle says.
For Michelle the biggest relief is being able to finally have people perform the show after weeks of Zoom rehearsals and proving the wait wasn’t for nothing.
“There are a lot of companies that have pulled their entire season for the year, and it’s sad not a lot of people have been able to finish what they started.” She says.
The Full Monty is running from the 18-21 November at Cranbourne Community Theatre.
