All is revealed in this feelgood comedy (From This Is Wiltshire)

The Full Monty Bristol Hippodrome, until Saturday. Tickets from £12.50 from www.atgtickets.com

IS there anything more comical than a bunch of men who are... let’s just say, past their sell-by date... standing with their dangly bits dangling for all to see?

Judging by the screams of laughter from the predominantly female audience as this feelgood comedy came to its climactic conclusion, I’d say probably not. Well, I don’t think they were screams of lust, anyway.

Thanks to the 1997 film, there can be few people who don’t know the story pinning together this riotous play – a bunch of out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers, of various shapes and sizes, come together for one night only to perform their own strip show, with the promise of going one step further than the professionals by revealing The Full Monty.

As hilarious as it is, the story – set in a post-Thatcher era of unemployment and desperation – has its fair share of poignancy, touching on everything from suicide to impotence amid the humour, and calling for actors who can believably switch from one extreme to the other (not to mention getting their kit off).

This cast of recognisable TV faces do it exceptionally well, not least Craig Gazey (Coronation Steeet) as Lomper, who moves from suicidal loser to sex symbol (sort of) during the course of the play. Simon Rouse (The Bill) as Gerald is also convincing as the proud middle manager struggling to adjust to his loss of fortune.

But the biggest part of the night, so to speak, belongs to Kieran O’Brien as Guy, whose performance can only be described as larger than life. You’ll see exactly what I mean if you can get to the Hippodrome this week.

In extremely eye-watering detail.

– MICHELLE TOMPKINS