United Kingdom An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical: Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 16.7.2024. (JPr)

One other musical of one other iconic hit movie I’ve by no means seen! An Officer and a Gentleman got here out in 1982 and starred Richard Gere as Zack Mayo coaching to turn into a US Navy Pilot. Douglas Day Stewart wrote the unique screenplay and in accordance with his biography within the programme based mostly it ‘on his personal experiences as a naval candidate in 1965, present process rigorous coaching whereas relationship a neighborhood manufacturing facility lady … a medical downside would knock Stewart out of his dream to fly jets however he would go on to serve on a top-secret group of naval and marine officers [involved in] beginning The Vietnam Conflict.’ Stewart returned to co-write the e-book of the musical with Sharleen Cooper Cohen.

Known as James Dean – at the least right here within the musical along with his leather-based jacket and motorcycle – Zack is relatively rebellious and too cocky for his personal good, he has had a really troubled upbringing and we see his ongoing turbulent relationship with an emotionally abusive (belittling) father, Chief Petty Officer Byron Mayo. Not solely that however Zack can also be pushed to his limits by the hard-as-nails coaching officer Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley. Regardless of Foley’s harsh therapy Zack refuses to DOR (drop on request) as a number of of his classmates will after they discover the going too robust.

The American Dream is the underlying theme of the musical. The women of their mind-numbing employment on the Pensacola Paper manufacturing facility close to to the naval station lengthy to be swept off their ft – and thus safe their future – by one of many naval officers. Although warned by Foley in opposition to being trapped into marriage by the native ladies Zack and classmate Sid Worley meet Paula Pokrifki and Lynette Pomeroy at a dance. Whereas Paula, regardless of some ups and down of their relationship, will help Zack, assist him via his robust coaching and get swept off her ft (a spotlight of the unique movie apparently), Sid will not be so fortunate with Lynette. (Spoiler alert) there isn’t a joyful ending for Sid who’s tricked by Lynette into dropping out and proposing marriage when she claims to be pregnant. Proving that for some the American Dream is just simply that, a dream!

I believe Stewart and Cohen have retained a lot of the dialogue from the movie and it will get interrupted by a number of Nineteen Eighties pop anthems which sometimes get Strictly Come Dancing-style choreography from Joanna Goodwin such because the Act I opener ‘In The Navy Now’ and initially of Act II with Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ at a karaoke bar when the corporate break the fourth wall and encourage these within the Cliffs Pavilion to clap alongside (although few do). A number of of the songs do appear to be shoe-horned into the musical for no explicit motive with the unique lyrics failing to match what we see on the stage, although the manufacturing facility employees – striving for that higher life – sing songs of feminine empowerment such James Brown’s ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’, Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Women Simply Need To Have Enjoyable’ and Helen Reddy’s ‘I’m Lady’.

No matter the truth that I loved the musical’s ongoing story most after they weren’t singing (!) the distinctive ensemble gave each quantity they had been concerned in full worth. Sometimes music and drama genuinely got here collectively resembling when Zack sings Mike Oldfield’s ‘Household Man’ as he reveals his personal insecurities and heartbreak on the lack of his good friend Sid.

Presumably enhanced by the odd backing monitor the small band of 5 below music director Christopher Duffy do wonders with the 22 listed songs, even when they’re relatively too loud at occasions. Michael Taylor’s set may be very useful – and environment friendly – within the trendy vogue, all steel-looking skeletal steps and platforms with the forged bringing on and off different stage furnishings. Ben Cracknell’s neon lighting provides ambiance, as acceptable, to the varied areas of the story, notably the native bar and trashy motel, the Tides Inn.

Faultless performances from all involved significantly the 2 leads Luke Baker (Zack) and Georgia Lennon (Paula) who deserved their second centre stage within the highlight throughout the movie’s ‘Up The place We Belong’ (as sung on the soundtrack by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes). The likeable Lennon particularly offers standout renditions of Foreigner’s ‘I Need to Know What Love Is’ and Coronary heart’s ‘Alone’. Each member of the forged is superb in their very own approach: there may be wonderful help from Melanie Masson as Paula’s caring mom, Esther, and Wendi Harriott’s Aunt Bunny. Tim Rogers makes Zack’s father really dislikeable till the top when he accepts his son’s decisions in life. Paul French’s heartbreak is palpable as Sid is led up the backyard path by Sinead Lengthy’s callous Lynette. Final however not least – I’m unable to call everybody within the excellent forged – Jamal Kane Crawford dominates the stage each time he’s on it because the demeaning and demanding Gunnery Sergeant.

Not understanding the An Officer and a Gentleman movie, the story of the musical melds, for me, the perfect bits acquainted from two 1986 releases Tom Cruise’s High Gun and Clint Eastwood’s Heartbreak Ridge and though the primary half of the musical drags considerably it’s made up for by the intensely emotional – and in the end uplifting – storyline after the interval.

Jim Pritchard

Featured Picture: Luke Baker (Zack) and Georgia Lennon (Paula) © Marc Brenner

For extra about An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical on tour click on right here.

Creatives:
Guide by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen
Based mostly on the unique screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart
Director – Nikolai Foster
Set and Costume designer – Michael Taylor
Choreographer – Joanna Goodwin
Musical supervisor and Orchestrations – George Dyer
Lighting designer – Ben Cracknell
Sound designer – Tom Marshall
Wigs, Hair and Make-up designer – Sam Cox
Musical director – Christopher Duffy

Solid included:
Luke Baker – Zack Mayo
Georgia Lennon – Paula Pokrifki
Jamal Kane Crawford – Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley
Paul French – Sid Worley
Sinead Lengthy – Lynette Pomeroy
Melanie Masson – Esther Pokrifki
Tim Rogers – Byron Mayo
Olivia Foster-Browne – Casey Seegar
Lucas Piquero – Eduardo Cortez
Chris Breistein – Louis Perryman
Wendi Harriott – Aunt Bunny
James Wilkinson-Jones – Troy
Danny Whelan – Craig