After months of rehearsing, costume fittings and choreography, six men are ready to leave it all on the stage... literally.

The Monty Men are ready to shock, awe and entertain as The Full Monty takes to the RPAC stage. It is the latest production from the local theatre company, The Dewdney Players.

The story is a classic, based on the 1997 British comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy.

It follows six unemployed friends who desperately attempt to put on a strip show. However, The Full Monty is far from a simple comedy production. 

Working alongside his wife and director Sherene is the show's producer, Matt Seders. Noting that the show strikes a nice balance between humour and tragedy, he is excited for the community to take part in a production hitting on, unfortunately, incredibly relatable topics.

"It brings men's mental health to the forefront. It brings the breakdown of family and the struggles that separated parents face in co-parenting a child. It also demonstrates sometimes how desperate people are to keep their relationship with their family."

The show also acts as a celebration of body image.

"When people say body image issues, naturally everybody thinks of the ladies, but it's very prevalent among men as well. So, it brings that to the forefront."

mark and calvin steal a metal beam'Gaz' (played by Mark Huolt) reassures his son Nathan (played by Kalvin Berrigan) not to worry as they nick a metal beam from a steelworks plant in the show The Full Monty

The Players held auditions six months ago, and Seders has been overjoyed to watch it come together.

"We did the auditions in May and had the show cast by the beginning of June. We rehearsed all through the summer, worked around everybody's summer vacation. It was a little insane at times. 

"We had specific choreography rehearsals so that everybody could learn their dance steps. It's just been slowly growing and coming together and gaining its own momentum since then and to the point where we're doing it for pretty much a full house on opening night."

The Full Monty opens Friday, October 21 and runs for three weeks with evening shows starting at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 27 and November 3.
Friday, October 21, 28 and November 4.
Saturday, October 22, 29 and November 5 with Saturday matinees on October 29 and November 5 at 2 p.m. 

Tickets can be found on SHOWPASS.

The Dewdney Players do issue a warning as the show deals with suicide, language and mild nudity on stage.

Along with the show, they shot and released a charity calendar. The calendar is available at the show or around town with proceeds going to support two men's mental health organizations in the foothills. Wild Rose Connections and in Calgary with Canadian Center for men and Families, Alberta chapter. 

 

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