Ladies Night follows a group of real Kiwi blokes who dare each other to put on a male strip show, after falling down on their luck and needing some extra cash.
A spur of the moment idea rapidly becomes a reality as the venue is booked and the seats sold. With the terrifying prospect of actually having to strip in front of the public only moments away, Craig, Barry, Norm, Wes and Gavin set about transforming themselves from beer belly to six pack.
We then follow them on their journey as they get to grips with the finer points of seduction, stripping and the perfect wax job. Think Magic Mike with a large dose of Kiwi humour.
The play is written by Stephen Sinclair and Anthony McCarten and was first performed at Auckland’s Mercury Theatre in 1987. It has had several sell-out tours in the UK since 1990 and has been translated into 16 languages. The play has been compared to the popular British film The Full Monty.
There was some controversy in 1998 when McCarten launched a multimillion-pound lawsuit in California, US, against the producers of the 1997 film which has a strikingly similar theme and was the highest grossing British film at the time. It was dismissed because the film had been made in the United Kingdom. McCarten and Sinclair went on to file a £180m lawsuit against the producers of The Full Monty in 1998 claiming the film blatantly infringed on their play Ladies Night, which had toured both Britain and the New Zealand. The lawsuit was finally settled out of court. As a result there is a stipulation they not refer to The Full Monty in any advertising associated with the play.
Part of the ticket price of Ladies Night will go to the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society.
Mulligan was inspired by the 2020 production of Calendar Girls by Unity Theatre which was also a fundraiser for breast cancer and was well supported by the community.
“I was intrigued by that concept of it going towards a local charity and hope we get good support as a result,” he says.
“I love the idea of artists supporting local; so we’ve got a local cast and crew and part of the proceeds will go to a local charity.”
Paul Hawaikirangi from 98cents, the hip-hop duo who came 11th in world hip-hop championships, has done the choreography.
“Apart from Paul they’re not dancers, so that has been a bit of a challenge and will hopefully create a few laughs.
“It’s a great comedy with a risque element. The big question is how far will the guys go in terms of getting their gear off . . . and you’ll have to see for yourselves.”
This is Mulligan’s first time in the director’s chair and he said he tried to allow his cast to put their own mark on their characters.
He has taken what he learned from directors Norm Maclean, who he worked with last year in the one-man show Michael James Manaia, and James Packman (Weed, Rock of Ages), and applied it as best he can.
He also got permission from the rights holders to use local references, so audiences can expect a production of Ladies Night unique to Te Tairāwhiti.
Needless to say a lot of velcro has been used in the production, with Mulligan giving full credit to the “wonderful costume department” of Julie McPhail, Jean McIntosh and Maree Murphy for making the easily removable garments.
“There are a lot of seams and tear-aways, as you can imagine.
“It’s going to be a great night out. Not only will audiences see a hilarious and entertaining play but they are also giving back to a very deserving charity — the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society.
“It’s a win-win!”
