Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 29 June 2024
Reviewed by Gemma Gibson
3***
An Officer and a Gentleman is one of the latest movies to be adapted into a stage musical – blending the iconic story of love, hardship and courage with a backdrop of eighties hits.
Just like the 1982 classic, the musical follows the story of bad boy Zack Mayo (played by Luke Baker), who takes on the gruelling challenge of training to be a naval officer. This is alongside Sid Worley (Paul French), following the footsteps of his older brother, and Casey Seegar (Olivia Foster-Browne), one of the only women on the programme and desperate to receive her wings.
The love story unfolds as Mayo and Worley meet two of the local factory girls Lynette and Paula (Sinead Long and Georgia Lennon), keen to escape the factory and life as they know it.
Despite an outdated storyline, the musical pays homage to the original very well, with the addition of explosive, athletic choreography and impressive harmonies.
The casting for this show is excellent, with connections between each character so easy to watch and take in. Baker and Lennon wow the audience with their undeniable chemistry and belting vocals, the musical could have explored this leading relationship even further.
Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, played by Jamal Kane Crawford, is brilliant, his cruelness with perfectly timed comedic moments captivates the audience.
The music does not always exactly compliment what is happening onstage, being a jukebox musical some of the song choices just did not help us delve into the characters’ emotions or complex relationships enough. Classics from the likes of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie and Bon Jovi however keep the audience engaged and singing throughout.
The exception to this was Alone, which Lennon sang with breathtaking power and perfection, and Family Man, which immaculately captures the sadness and pain engulfing French’s character.
The physicality of the cast is also to be commended, naval training moments and a jaw dropping fight scene are highlights of the show.
The visuals for this production are exquisite, allowing us to follow the characters and their movement with ease. Lighting is used to portray aircrafts shooting across the sky of the theatre, meanwhile a huge iron frame dominates the stage, transforming from an army base to the local bar within seconds.
Ending with the iconic Up Where We Belong received instant whoops and cheers from the audience on opening night, who were clearly fans of the film and knew what scene was coming. This is definitely a show of crowd pleasing anthems.
While the music choices are not quite right for me, this is a fun night at the theatre which will leave you feeling breathless and nostalgic.