An Officer and a Gentleman
The hit 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman was a huge box office success, starring a young Richard Gere. It is credited with helping to ‘rehabilitate the American public’s view of the military in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.’ However, it's unlikely that An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical will have the same cultural significance.
I felt the film did much of the heavy lifting for the story we saw on stage. Since I hadn’t seen it, I was confused by some of the plot. This was compounded by a delayed start and what felt like a rushed first act.
At times, I struggled to understand the accents and found myself wincing at the volume. I wondered if technical issues were plaguing the opening night at Hull New Theatre, but sadly these weren't rectified after the interval. I can only presume this was the intended sound mix.
The plot appeared to follow that of the film, but the opportunity wasn’t taken to modernise any of the elements. I felt the character development was lacking, and the storyline surrounding Casey Seegar was predictable. At the very least, she could have been allowed to climb the wall on her own, rather than being lifted by the male cast members!
That said, there were glimmers of brilliance. The cast are clearly very talented and could give Mariah Carey a run for her money with their top notes and ad-libs. However, some of the vocals felt a bit over the top, as though the singers were competing to be the loudest. There were moments of beautiful harmony, particularly in 'I Am Woman', but this didn’t last through the whole song.
Luke Baker as Zack Mayo, Paul French as Sid Worley, and Chris Breistein as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley were excellent throughout. Baker’s vocals were powerful without being overpowering, and his chemistry with Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifki was particularly strong.
French’s performance of 'Family Man' was the standout moment for me in the entire show. It was raw, intense, and honestly breath-taking. Unfortunately, it wasn’t given the space it needed to truly have the emotional impact it deserved. The moment was quickly followed by a cheesy jukebox number, 'The Final Countdown', which undercut the scene’s emotional weight.
I’m sure fans of the film will find the show wonderfully nostalgic; particularly the iconic last scene where Mayo whisks Paula away, but for me it didn't quite take off.
This show was reviewed on the 4th November 2024 at Hull New Theatre where it runs until the 9th November 2024. Tickets available here: An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical – Hull Theatres
Review written by Melissa Cooper
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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