Show Synopsis:
Jerry Lukowski and his friends are recently unemployed in Buffalo, NY, as the steel mills have gone out of business, and they decide to start a stripping act where they go "the full monty" - all the way - after a touring Chippendales production gets rave reviews from the town's women. The men fight off their insecurities and become good friends, sticking together through Malcolm's mother's funeral, Dave quitting unexpectedly, and getting arrested at their dress rehearsal for wearing thongs. The men decide to perform for one sold-out show together.
Character:
Jeanette Burmeister, an older woman who has had three husbands but has never lost her love of life; extremely experienced in the ways of life and men; accompanies the men on piano and shares her show business expertise with them.
Song Context:
During a subpar rehearsal, Jeannette shows the strippers what they need to do to jazz up their act for it to be a success.
Fun Facts:
1) The Full Monty is based on a British film with the same main plot.
2) The Full Monty was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, but received none.
3) This role was not in the original film that the musical is based on. Kathleen Freeman originated the role on Broadway and in an interview with The New York Times, called her "the seventh Monty...It's the kind of character that not everybody was right in tune with. But she's been around, and God knows I have."
"This gig's an echo of that time with Buddy Greco
When we did the Desert Inn in ?59.
The dancing girls were clunky,
The drummer was a junkie,
But we pulled the act together
And we killed 'em every time.
That having been said, frankly,
I think that things are worse here.
That guy and his head are gonna need
Some kind of nurse here!
It's like a friggin' curse here
Things could be better -
So sue me, it's the truth-
Things could be better 'round here.
[Spoken]
It's an attitude problem. Seen it a million times.
[Sung]
I was subbing with Stan Kenton
In this seedy club in Trenton
When I heard my third divorce
Had just gone through.
I coulda torn my heart out
But instead I got my chart out
And I gave 'em all a lesson
In the way to play the blues.
That having been said,
Something is even more morose here.
Just looking ahead's making me feel
Real gross here.
We aren't even close here
Things could be better.
Could they get any worse? I don't think so!
Things could be better 'round here.
It's like a putz museum,
A showbiz mausoleum,
Things could be better 'round here!
There's a problem with the timing
There's a problem with the groove
There's an overwhelming lethargy
Nothing can improve.
You can sense defeat get closer
Every time they add a move
There's only six days!
This guys needs a helmet
That guy needs some lipo
And I could use some Geritol delivered in a hypo
But I don't wanna gripe -
Oh -
Things could be better
You bet your ass they could!
Things could be better 'round here
Now let me just tell you something...
I've played for hoofers who can't hoof
I've played for tone-deaf singers
And once, when I insulted Frank
I played with broken fingers
I've paid my dues
I know the blues -
Of this I can assure you
So now I'll say it one last time
'Cause I don't want to bore you
I've got some bad news for you
Things could be better
[Spoken]
Let's face it, we suck.
[Sung]
We're deep down in the ditch, man
[Spoken]
This showbiz is a bitch, man
[Sung]
Things could be better
We could be better
Things could be better 'round -
[Spoken]
You know what Kate Smith used to say about a bad rehearsal? Usually means a bad performance.
[Sung]
- here!"