# Let these men entertain you: The Gateway’s 'The Full Monty' strikes a chord in Buffalo
**BUFFALO** — In the shadow of the postindustrial landscape that once defined this city’s skyline, a different kind of production is taking the stage. The Gateway’s latest offering, *The Full Monty*, brings a poignant, hilarious, and ultimately redemptive look at what happens when the traditional American dream hits a roadblock.
The story follows six men who find themselves at a crossroads after losing their jobs at the local steel plant 18 months ago. Faced with the crushing reality of long-term unemployment and a lack of prospects, they discover that sometimes, despair can push a man into the light—or, in this case, onto the stage.
What follows is a journey of self-discovery that is as much about restoring a man's sense of purpose as it is about the riotous act of putting on a show. The production centers on Jerry Lukowski, played with terrific grit by Rory Max Kaplan, a divorced father struggling to keep up with child support. Alongside his best friend, Dave Bukatinsky—portrayed with deep, resonant vulnerability by Clayton Howe—the duo finds themselves seeking inspiration in the most unlikely of places: the ladies' room of a local strip club.
Hiding in the stalls, the men are forced to confront their own insecurities as they listen to their wives and others discuss the allure of male performers. It is here that the seeds of their plan—to perform a "full Monty" for profit—are sown.
Based on the beloved 1997 British film and adapted for the American stage by book writer Terrence McNally and composer David Yazbek, the musical captures the grit of the working class with a sharp, modern edge. Since its 2000 Broadway debut, the show has remained a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
For audiences, the show is a rollercoaster. It balances the hilarity of the men's clumsy attempts at choreography with the quiet, sobering pathos of their personal lives. As the characters navigate these massive life changes, the audience is invited not just to laugh at their antics, but to cheer for their newfound *joie de vivre*.
At its core, *The Full Monty* is a show for adults that asks a difficult question: What is left of a man when his livelihood is stripped away? The answer, as the Gateway production expertly demonstrates, is often found in the brotherhood and vulnerability that emerge when the suits come off and the real work of self-worth begins.
*The Full Monty* is currently playing at the Gateway. Tickets and showtime information are available through the theater’s box office.
