“The Musical” is quickly becoming producers’ favourite suffix, as theatre posters across the world are increasingly adorned with the words nestled beneath the title of some well-known cinema classic now reimagined as a thinly woven, song-laden version of itself. Based on the 1982 film of the same name, An Officer And A Gentleman: The Musical threatens to fall into the same trap, doomed to be discarded onto the pile of forgotten theatre trips. And yet this show doesn’t just hold its own above the rest of the pack. It soars!

Set in a US navy base where candidates are undergoing a gruelling training programme in order to, hopefully, graduate as aviation officers, love blossoms between down-and-out trainee officer Zack Mayo and local factory worker Paula Pokrifki. Against a backdrop of class, competition and combat their relationship soars, banks and occasionally nosedives as they struggle to run from their pasts and free themselves from the present.

A plethora of bankable 80s ballads make this musical what it is: a complete, unadulterated nostalgia-fest. And, like stripes on a uniform, the production wears this bridge with pride. There is no attempt to shy away from what is an evening of sheer entertainment as the production delivers, to an expectant auditorium, a chance to relive everything and anything that first won the motion picture the hearts of its many devoted adherents.

All of the film’s heart-stopping moments, quippable quotes and genre-defining scenes are brought to life with a pace and an energy that rivals the jets the cadets are so eager to pilot. It’s a credit to the cast – a fearsome yet loveable ensemble, bursting with spirit and flair – that this homage still feels original in its approach. The company is led by Luke Baker who takes on the daunting task of following where Richard Gere once led, but he does so with both poise and presence. It’s an impeccable performance, with Baker seemingly unfazed by his on-screen predecessor, as he manages to keep the “tough guy” Byronic hero act nuanced and away from the realms of self-pitying melodrama.

His performance is more than matched by Georgia Lennon (returning to the Theatre Royal after a star turn as Marie Osmond in The Osmonds: A New Musical which SOURCE was also fortunate enough to catch) as Pokrifki, and a fierce chemistry bristles between the pair. A last-minute cast change due to ill health saw Julia Jones and Danny Whelan take on the roles of Lynette Pomeroy and Sid Worley respectively and it’s a credit to their talent as well as their professionalism that not a beat was missed in spite of it.

Elsewhere Melanie Masson’s voice is transcendent and ‘I Am Woman’ provides the show’s emotional anchor. Likewise a dynamic reworking of Bon Jovi’s ‘Blaze Of Glory’ provides an opportunity for Baker and Tim Rogers (playing Byron Mayo, our hero’s absent father) to belt as they brawl, an angst-ridden high-point.

The production is undoubtedly packed with show-stopping solos but it is in the group numbers where this production truly lifts off. The shoe-horning of some of the tracks might prove cheesy (if we’re being kind) or clunky (if we’re not) but that is more than made up for by the deftness of the arrangements and the commitment of the cast. Ensemble numbers such as ‘This Is A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’, ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ and ‘The Final Countdown’ are in turns inspiring, electrifying and devastating and they are met with dancing in the aisles come the close of the show.

“Love lifts us up where we belong,” as the film’s original theme song reminds us, and for tonight’s audience there was no question about belonging. It was love of the film that brought them to this unbeatable homage to it but it’s a slick, fun and gratifying tribute that sees this audience singing into the night. An Officer And A Gentleman: The Musical is a love letter to a moment of cinematic history that packs a score capable of transporting its audiences into a yesteryear of romance and rebellion.

It is escapism and it is pastiche. At times it’s as subtle as a jet engine but it is packed with heart, soul and good intentions. And it comes with a uniform…

Theatre Royal Brighton, Tuesday 23rd April 2024
For tickets and further information click here
Photo by Marc Brenner