An Officer and a Gentleman – National Tour

Based on the 1982 film which stars Richard Gere and Debra Winger, An Officer and a Gentleman tells the story of Zack Mayo (Luke Baker), a young lad who hasn’t had the best start in life due to neglect from his alcoholic father and he enrolls to better himself as a US Navy pilot. The story follows lots of young hopefuls as they embark on this journey, competing for a couple of places. Baker is quick to realise that he cannot get through the challenging training program alone and enlists the help of Sid Worley (Paul French).  The pair form a great partnership and of course try to find love with the local ladies. Playing hard to get, it’s not long before packing factory worker Paula Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon) falls for Zack and likewise, Lynette Pomeroy (Sinead Long) falls for Sid. There is great chemistry between the couples and some standout performances.

The show is perfectly cast and there are some incredibly strong rock/pop voices as they belt out classics such as ‘Livin On a Prayer’ ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Material Girl’. The story is however flimsy in places, relying heavily on the fact people have already seen the film, as the show covers a lot of ground so quickly that you just don’t have time to invest in all the characters and miss bits if you blink. Jamal Crawford shines as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley putting the recruits through their paces and you do grow to like this character as the show goes on. In both acts, the hard working factory ladies led by Melanie Masson and Wendi Harriot come together with big hits ‘This is a Man’s World’ and ‘Up Where We Belong’, showing strong female empowerment, perfectly aimed at the target audience of the show. The second act definitely picks up the pace and I love the twist, this was handled well with the leads Luke Baker and Paul French.

Michael Taylor’s cagey metal set makes a great aviation base with neon light visuals, paired with Ben Cracknell’s lighting design. They work well together and are cleverly used, perfect for the touring production. The set changes are seamless with quick blasts of upbeat hits perfect for the jukebox audience, keeping the energy and gliding you effortlessly into the next scene. An Officer and a Gentleman makes for a fun, feel good night out, jam packed with reworked 80’s nostalgia brought straight to the stage.

This show was reviewed on the 2nd April 2024 at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London where it runs until the 6th April 2024.  Tickets available here: New Wimbledon Theatre Box Office | Buy Tickets Online | ATG Tickets

Full tour details can be found here: An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical

**** stars

Sam Sadler

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Photo credit: Marc Brenner