23 May 2008 - Full Monty Report by Gail Berry

Gail Berry a Personal Review.

Full Monty 23rd May 2008

WHAT A NIGHT

Our Performance of The Full Monty was delivered on FRI 23rd May at a local hotel in Nottingham for 160 people. Guests started to arrive at approx 7.15 all the nerves and apprehension now had to be pushed aside as we now had to deliver what we had been working for, a successful fundraising event for Horseball.
 
Our goal was to deliver a show which represented the end scene of the film to the best of our ability. When I actually saw the film myself some years ago I thought the concept of the community supporting six local lads who wanted to raise some money fantastic. The humour the film produced was I think intoxicating.

Think of the end scene and you will possibly remember the working men’s club packed out with men and women, the atmosphere of the room the shiny scene behind the guys and the late arrival of one of the boys who had decided that he really couldn’t do this.
 
I know as the one of the team who pulled this idea out of the bag that we captured and delivered as good if not better than the film did .You had to be there on the night to feel how fantastic the atmosphere was when the guys were about to come on and what we had been practising for weeks was about to begin.
 
Amanda and I along with Jackie have seen six lads experience ‘oh my god why are we actually doing this? Why did we say yes?’ We have seen them supporting each other encouraging each other and working so hard to get the five minute piece right .It may not seem like that should be hard work but try it and you will see that it is. When you are a builder a sales person a student or an apprentice, to turn yourself from your day job so to speak into a stripping star is a feat in itself. Never once did they speak of letting us down when I’m sure at times they wished they could have.
 
The night was everything we thought it would be people enjoying themselves waiting for the show which started at ten. We saw the nerves the apprehension and even experienced a missing star oh my lord did our stomachs go. Him found, we waited for the cue to send the lads in, Amanda and I have said we will never forget those ten minutes we had with the lads as to have shared weeks with them, to now see that we were all there actually delivering what we set out to do was amazing. 
 
Above anything for us that night, that time will never leave either of us. 
 
I’m sure by now you have all heard that the show was a great success? Both myself and Amanda are immensely grateful to all who bought a ticket and supported the event .They, I am certain are glad they came as for me, when we do another Full Monty as I am sure we will as we are all still buzzing from it, it will never come close to what we all experienced on the 23rd May We had it all the dance floor the lights the music the shiny back drop and a fab poster and of course never forgetting our stars. Massive thanks goes to Matthew Bagley who took time off from self employment to train and to be there on the day, Ben Berry who turned 18 on the 22nd May and put his birthday on the back burner for the show.

Jamie Chiarella whom the week before had been rushed to hospital to have his appendics removed, Still recovering from surgery but would not let us and the guys down (I think really he thought the scar would look cool).
Jamie Gibson, who juggled himself around his exams to meet his commitment to the event. Liam Noble who is as noble a guy you will ever meet and David Worthington who said to me very early on how on earth did you get us to do this? Well David I said were gonna make you a star and from all of us Amanda, Jackie and myself you all were.
All were fantastic we were so proud of them for their solid commitment to doing this event not for themselves but for Amanda, I, Jackie and for the people from Horseball they were supporting. For rushing from their day jobs to rehearsals for a good number of weeks for no personal monetary gain but for others so again thank you for that.
Every sleepless night  all the hard work all the nerves have been well worth it working as a team for this has been absolutely brilliant and it  could not have been  done without each other , So a personal thank you from me to you Thelma ( Amanda)my clone, Jackie& Chris, Little Ben ( our runner) Gemma ,Christy ,Emma, ,Dave Berry, Lynne &Dave Morgan ,John Kerry, Karen & Richard Hatton, and  not forgetting Sean. For any who think ‘why are you thanking me’ the answer is that no matter if it was a small or large contribution of support without all of us that night would not have been what it was. A ROARING SUCESS.
All company sponsors will be receiving a personal thank you on official letterhead. 
 
Would We Do It Again You Bet Your Bottom Dollar (FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY) We Would. 
 
Gail Berry