The sky is the limit for this five-star, meticulously-crafted musical and it might just be one of my new favourites!
Heading to The Opera House last night, I was unsure what to expect as this show was completely unfamiliar to me - having not watched the original 80s film - however I was desperate to watch it all over again the moment it ended.
The story follows Zack Mayo (Luke Baker) and his fellow wannabe Navy Pilots as they undergo rigorous training at the United States Naval Aviation Training Facility in Florida. Each character carries their own dreams and struggles, facing not only the physical challenges but also mental trials under the stern guidance of drill sergeant Foley (Jamal Kane Crawford). All share the same overriding goal to fly the jets and be respected as an officer.
Alongside the intense training, there are glimpses of potential romance with the local factory girls, offering a respite from the demanding regimen. However, for the women, opportunities for progression are scarce in a male-dominated, chauvinistic world so their aspirations lie in marrying one of the trainee officers and jetting off to a better life.
At its core, the show delves into the lives of working-class individuals striving for self-improvement and a better future in the aftermath of the Vietnam war.
Boasting a score of iconic songs featuring the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and Bon Jovi, with hits like "I Was Made For Lovin' You" and "Material Girl", the music works perfectly and adds much of the telling to the story.
Each song was so beautifully sung, with stellar performances delivered by each and every cast member. We were in awe of the sheer talent of this cast, which was probably one of the strongest I've seen - with all ensemble characters also giving their complete all to the roles, with such passion and conviction.
Particularly notable was Paul French's portrayal of Sid Worley, a fellow recruit who is living in the shadow of his late older brother. Paul was excellent as Rooster in the recent tour of Annie, so we were looking forward to seeing him in a more leading role - the complexity and vulnerability of Sid's character paired with the frequent glimpses of humour that Paul brought to the part were absolutely brilliant.
Despite Luke Baker's performance being phenomenal overall, it was his excellent vocal ability and seemingly infinite stamina which stood out beyond everything else. As the show went on, Luke skilfully and subtly unveiled more and more layers of Zack Mayo's character, showing us the underlying intricacies behind his actions and mindsets, and ultimately winning over the hearts of the entire audience.
Julia Jones' portrayal of a confident and flirty yet desperate Lynette Pomeroy was wonderful, she brought a very naturalistic style of acting to the role which I adored. Paired with her outstanding vocal skills as she belted out some of our favourite tunes, she is most definitely a force to be reckoned with and I can't wait to see more from her in the future.
Another stand out role for us was the ruthless Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley. Jamal's comedic timing had us in stitches of laughter and, despite playing such a dictatorial role, he managed to also let more "human" parts of Foley's personality shine through.
The set changes were momentous, taking us from location to location swiftly and almost unnoticeably. The lighting and smoke effects seamlessly intertwined more modern technology with a nostalgic eighties vibe.
The whole show went above and beyond my expectations, bringing compassion, sadness, hopelessness, happiness and anger into only two hours. It was an undoubtable 10/10 from me.
‘An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical’ is on at The Opera House in Manchester until Saturday, May 4. You can purchase your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/an-officer-and-a-gentleman-the-musical/opera-house-manchester/.
