GARY DOES A FULL MONTY
AS anyone who saw the 1997 smash hit film The Full Monty will attest — and in particular, its final spectacular striptease — it is not a viewing experience for those of a particularly delicate disposition.
And much as its title suggests, the cast of the stage adaptation have had to get to grips with doing a full — and we mean full — striptease in front of packed houses every night.
For its star Gary Lucy, 36, the forthcoming Dublin dates pose an added interesting element: his extended family will be present and correct.
‘I have loads of rellies over there, and you know what big Irish families are like, they’ll be out in force,’ laughs the actor, whose mother is originally from Derry.
‘Auntie Kathleen and her eight kids will all be in the front row. I spent holiday over in Ireland when I was a kid, rather than run around the streets where I lived in Essex. My Nan lived in Newry, and we have relatives in Edentubber and Belfast.’
Gary and the rest of the cast will be leaving their hats on (and not much else)
during the hilarious stage adaptation of the hit show, which charts the antics of five factory workers who lose their jobs and decide to start a male stripping troupe.
Lest your mind be running away with the logistics of the final strip scene, it transpires that a huge backlight is turned on the audience during the crucial ‘full monty’ moment, therefore temporarily blinding them (and sparing the cast’s blushes). Yet there are occasional technical glitches.
‘If the lighting guy doesn’t do his bit properly, the audience pretty much gets a bit more, or less, than they bargained for,’ smiles Lucy. ‘Actually, quite a few times, it hasn’t worked. Some lighting guys have gone missing at the crucial moments. If the fusebox blows or anything, we’re really screwed. Especially if it’s a cold theatre.’
Lucy — best known for acting roles in Hollyoaks, Footballers’ Wives and EastEnders — has been in the touring production
for close to four years, so baring all in front of thousands of people is tantamount to just another day in the office.
‘The first few times was quite nervewracking, but you don’t really think about it now,’ he admits. ‘Usually, we’re boiling (under the costumes) and can’t wait to get our kits off.’
Although Lucy will be leaving his family — wife Natasha and children Jasmine, 13, Elvis, seven, and three-year-old Sadie — back home during the show’s Irish run, his children have already seen the show, and are among his greatest fans.
‘My boy loves the funky chicken dance that Louis (Emerick) does in the audition scene,’ he laughs. Given that The Full Monty is a show involves nudity, Lucy says there’s little professional pressure to stay trim.
‘I’m lucky that I can get away with eating anything,’ he adds. ‘Let’s just say I’m getting away with it… for the moment.’
The Full Monty is at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, from October 1 to 6 and the INEC Killarney, October 8 to 13. For tickets see thefullmontytheplay.com.