Flying high with the cast of An Officer And A Gentleman. Image - Courtesy of Marc Brenner
What do you get if you mash up an iconic 80s movie with some of the biggest hits from everyone’s favourite decade? An Officer And A Gentleman: The Musical, that’s what.
And this high-energy nostalgia romp certainly lifted the His Majesty’s Theatre audience up where they belong on its opening night, judging from the cheering, clapping and spontaneous standing ovation at the end.
Now, in the pantheon of legendary 80s films, An Officer And A Gentleman is a wee bit faded from collective memory – other than the end where Richard Gere in his US Navy white uniform scoops factory girl Debra Winger up and carries her off to a happy-every-to the soaring notes of Up Where We Belong.
A musical moment from An Officer And A Gentleman at HMT. Image - Courtesy of Marc Brenner
And, of course, the musical version sets course for that uplifting climax via the now-familiar tropes of 80s films - angry underdog battles against the odds to become a fighter jet pilot, ends up winning the respect of his adversaries and getting the girl into the bargain.
The storyline on stage is filled in with broad brushstrokes that call back to the movie from raw recruits to polished pilots-to-be. And it doesn’t shy away from the darker beats of the film either, including suicide.
And that plot is used as a thread for the real pearls of the show – those banging tunes.
I Want To Know What Love Is, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Toy Soldiers, all as present and correct as Navy recruits on parade.
They are, however, given a musical theatre twist which means some land – Livin’ On A Prayer was a high-energy piece of joy – and some don’t. I’ll stick with Kim Wilde’s version of Kids In America, ta.
You're in the Navy now with An Officer And A Gentleman at His Majesty's Theatre. Image - Courtesy of Marc Brenner.
All of this is played out with a talented cast, which features some great voices and stand-out dance moves.
The chemistry between Luke Baker in the Zack role that made Richard Gere’s career and Georgia Lennon as love interest Paula (Debra Winger’s break-out role) – is nicely essayed by the pair of them.
And Jamal Kane Crawford brings real presence – and a fine set of tonsils – to tough drill sergeant Emil Foley, played by Louis Gossett Jr in the original film.
The set is as much a part of the experience, too, with its industrial feel and clever lighting transporting the audience from training camp to local dive bars with ease.
The HMT audience loved An Officer And A Gentleman. Image - Courtesy of Marc Brenner
It’s an entertaining night out, leavened with a healthy dose of that 80s cheesiness that is the unique flavour of the decade, and one that the audience loved.
An Officer And A Gentleman: The Musical runs until Saturday, October 12. For more information and tickets visit here.
Review by Scott Begbie