An Officer & A Gentleman: The Musical Review

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The next production has arrived as part of an impressive line up for 2024 at The Regent Theatre in Stoke on Trent. Based on the book by Douglas Day Stewart & Sharleen Cooper Cohen, "An Officer and a Gentleman: The Musical" blends drama, romance and suspense with some of the most iconic '80s hits and rock ballads.

Zack Mayo (James Wilkinson-Jones) is a young Naval officer candidate with dreams of becoming a jet pilot. Along with a group of other candidates from all walks of life, they navigate their way through the rigorous training program at the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School, but also walk the tightrope between fulfilling their dream and fighting off the girls working near the naval base, who all have dreams of marrying a pilot and jetting off into the sunset.

Zack has heard the stories of the girls snaring officers into marriage and children and he looks to avoid it. However after meeting Paula (Georgia Lennon) who instantly tugs on his heart strings and provides support after the emotional and physical torture dished out by his Gunnery Sgt Emil Foley (Jamal Kane Crawford?l) avoiding love isn’t as simple as it may have first appeared. Life has given him nothing but the courage to win… and a girl to love.

The story is told through rock ballads and electric 80’s anthems, but to be honest, some of it felt gratuitous. The majority of the cast had great voices, with Wendy Harriott a stand out for me. However some were really off key and lacked the vocal prowess needed to really pay tribute to some of these incredible songs. And it could have been technical, but it was sometimes hard to hear the vocals over the music provided by the superb orchestra.

The production design put together by Michael Taylor was simple and effective, with cues throughout the show that set the scene to transition between various locations, from the streets to the flight training facility.

Featuring classic hits from the '80s, including "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", I Want To Know What Love Is”, “Livin’ On A Prayer”, “Alone” and many more, the musical's jukebox soundtrack is a nostalgic journey through the decade's most iconic songs. The live orchestra breathes new life into these iconic tunes, infusing them with energy and emotion and playing some different versions of what we know and love, although not all of them hit the mark for me.

Overall I’d be lying if I said that "An Officer and a Gentleman: The Musical" is the most polished performance I’ve ever seen. Some parts were clunky, the sound wasn’t great in places and there was a slight interruption with technical difficulties during the second act, which I highly doubt is a regular occurrence. However it has a captivating story with some exceptional performances, and an unforgettable soundtrack which was the main attraction for me. It definitely had the feel good factor and the rapturous applause at the finale was proof of that. Don't miss your chance to catch it before it jets off to its next destination.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

An Officer & A Gentleman: The Musical is playing at the Regent Theatre NOW, up until and including Sunday 11th May. Tickets are on sale and are available by calling the Regent Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7649. 

You can also visit www.atgtickets.com/stoke for tickets and info.