Energetic cast, clever script and solid lyrics make for a romp that ends with a fuzzy glow

For a debut production from Pangdemonium, this is an ambitious start: a full-scale musical with a cast of 20, full-on singing and dancing, and full-frontal nudity. The name of the group that the characters form is Hot Metal and the production was, well, sizzling hot.

THE FULL MONTY has plenty of things going for it: infectious energy from the cast, salty, raucous humour, confident song-and-dance numbers, a nifty set, and plenty of heart.

The cast spend most of their time with their clothes on, but, in spirit, they let it all hang out. Leading man Adrian Pang puts on a typically magnetic performance in conveying the mixture of irresponsibility, guilt and awkward love for his son. Ebi Shankara plays the retiree Horse and heats up the stage with Big Black Man, a sultry soul number which brings the house down. Briton Andy Hockley is a joy to watch ad Dave, the loyal friend nursing a serious hang-up about his weight. A shout-out to the women too, especially Sheila Francisco as the boozy, ancient piano player, and Denise Tan as the flouncy wife kept in the dark about her husband’s unemployment, but shows herself to made of stronger stuff.

Eventually everything cranks up to fever pitch in the raunchy finale, where the characters go from sheer terror to confidently tearing their clothes off. The audience cheers and hoots, and it is hard not to leave the theatre grinning from ear to ear and with a warm and fuzzy glow in the belly.

Adeline Chia, STRAITS TIMES LIFE!