In Orono: ‘The Full Monty,’ a musical of teamwork through stripping

Actors often take roles for exposure.

“The Full Monty”certainly offers that.

The musical “The Full Monty,” a touring production staged by Networks Productions that comes to the Maine Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, is the story of six unemployed steelworkers who unite to make some cash and help out a friend in trouble. When a local male strip show – whose dancers venture down to their G-strings – is a hit with the local women, the cash-strapped factory workers figure they can cash in big time if they go “the full Monty” – full frontal nudity.

Where does the phrase “the full Monty” come from? Popular explanations cite Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, known as “Monty” to his troops, who defeated the Germans in North Africa in World War II. The phrase has been traced to his fondness for eating a full English breakfast – eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, and tea – daily, his impressive collection of medals, or even his long and fastidious military briefings during the war.

The musical is based on the 1997 movie of the same title. The setting has been changed from Sheffield, England, to Buffalo, N.Y., for the American audience.

Despite the fact that the concept of “The Full Monty” has been kicking around for almost a decade, theatergoers are still surprised about its subject matter, according to cast member Gary Brintz.

“Some people walk out of the show,” Brintz said in a phone interview. “People should think about what it’s called before they buy tickets.”

The New Jersey native is the latest member of the cast and has played Ethan for the past four months. “Ethan’s not very coordinated or very smart. But he loves the movie musicals. He’s a big Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor fan, although you wouldn’t know it to look at him. He knows he’s not a dancer, but he wants to be able to do the stunts.”

Brintz had to mask his dance experience for the role of Ethan, and the part has been challenging physically as well.

“There’s a lot of slapstick humor, and I had to learn to pace myself,” explained Brintz, 23. “It’s a very hard schedule on the road, and I’m beating myself up on stage every night to make the audience laugh. So it was a matter of getting in shape and grabbing ahold of the endurance I needed.”

Despite the subject matter, “The Full Monty” is about a team training together.

“It’s about the perseverance of men,” Brintz said. “These men get together with one goal in mind – to make money. The camaraderie builds throughout the piece. The show ends with ‘the full Monty.’ It’s the brightest moment in the show, what these guys have been working on the whole time. It’s such an uplifting moment that this show leaves you wanting to go out and party afterward.”

For tickets to “The Full Monty,” call the Maine Center for the Arts box office.