An Officer And A Gentleman At Winter Gardens Blackpool Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Cath Joyce
Based on the iconic 1982 film starring Richard Gere, An Officer and a Gentleman is a romantic musical packed with classic ’80s pop hits. Currently touring the UK, we attended the opening night of its Blackpool run, at the world-famous Blackpool Winter Gardens.
As a big fan of the film, I was really pleased to find that the musical stays true to the original story, centring around four main characters, Zack Mayo, Sid Worley, Paula Pokrifki and Lynette Pomeroy. Zak (Luke Baker) is a rebellious Navy brat with a troubled past, his mother committed suicide when he was 12 and he was raised by his heavy-drinking, womanizing father. Zack wants to better himself and joins the Navy Aviation Officer Candidate School and befriends Sid (Danny Whelan), the son of an Admiral. Both young men are determined to pass the rigorous 12-week program and become jet pilots. On the other side of the story are local factory girls Paula Pokrifki (Georgina Lennon) and Lynette Pomeroy (Sinead Long), who view relationships with Naval officers as their best chance to escape their dead-end lives.
Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Jamal Crawford) who is in charge of whipping the recruits into shape, was quite a character and we really enjoyed his performance, his booming voice and stern presence were absolutely perfect for the role.
The production does a good job of reflecting the grit and challenges of military life and we both felt Siobhan James, deserves a special mention for her portrayal of cadet Casey Seegar. Although not a main character, her portrayal of a young woman striving to become the first female fighter pilot in the Navy was compelling. Her determination and energy, especially when she was trying to get up the wall of the assault course was a highlight of the show.
Musically, the show features over 20 huge ’80s pop hits from the likes of Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, Madonna, and Blondie. With such a nostalgic soundtrack, you’d expect a high-energy, feel-good night. However, the performance didn’t quite take off as hoped. Some of the vocals were hard to decipher, and the American accents further muddled the clarity. While the live band was excellent, many of the songs were rearranged, which felt unnecessary and weren’t always a good fit for the storyline.
The staging managed to convey several different settings, from the Navy training base to the girls’ factory and various bars and motels. The neon ’80s signage set the decade nicely, and the cold, industrial steel of the set successfully represented both the harshness of the training camp and the bleakness of factory life. Lighting was used effectively, particularly during a key fight scene between Zack and Gunnery Sergeant Foley.
Of course, the iconic ending—Zack arriving at the factory to sweep Paula off her feet to the sounds of Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes—remains as heart warming as ever, even for those unfamiliar with the film.
If you love a romantic musical with lots of 80’s music then this is the musical for you!
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £23.75
An Officer and A Gentleman is at Blackpool Winter Gardens until Saturday 5th October 2024.
For more information or to book tickets visit: https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/an-officer-and-a-gentleman/ or call the box office on 0844 770 0593 Website: https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/
Winter Gardens Blackpool, Church Street, Blackpool, FY11HU