AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN at the New Wimbledon Theatre

★★

“the full, immensely talented, company give it their all as they wade through the likes of Madonna, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, Hall & Oates, Status Quo… and the list goes on”

Picture the scene; in some non-descript boardroom as the initial production meeting for a new musical unfolds. As is the current trend, a successful movie is on the table undergoing the duke box treatment. The person, or persons (no one is actually credited), responsible for compiling the song list has their mind elsewhere. Or, more likely, they didn’t even show up for the brief. The memo in their inbox was enough. It’s the nineteen-eighties!

It’s difficult to decide whether the music is shoehorned into the book, or the thin wisps of script have been tacked onto a compilation CD from somebody’s forty-year-old record collection. Whichever, the result is a union that makes little sense. “An Officer and a Gentleman – the Musical” might have been a good idea at the time, but nobody has really thought it through.

Based on the successful romantic drama film starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger, the musical adaptation’s book is by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen (Stewart wrote the original film, based on his own experiences as a Naval Aviation Officer Candidate). It was four decades ago now, and very much of its time. There was a toughness underlying the romance and it delved into the lives of down-trodden characters. Although faithful to the original story, the inclusion of the musical numbers in Nikolai Foster’s revival displaces depth of character leaving us with a sense of bemusement as each anthemic chorus blasts its way into the auditorium.

Behind the wall of sound, the story follows Zack Mayo (Luke Baker) through his training as an aviation officer. Whilst continually in conflict with the hard-hitting, sadistic Sergeant Foley (Jamal Kane Crawford) he finds solace, and love (of sorts), in local factory worker Paula Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon). Meanwhile fellow candidate, Sid Worley (Paul French) starts dating Paula’s best friend Lynette Pomeroy (Sinead Long). Both men have been forewarned that local girls will use pregnancy to entrap an officer, seeking a way out of their humdrum lives. This forms a sizeable chunk of the narrative, steering one of the officers towards tragedy, while the other heads off towards his climactic happy ending.

The presentation, it has to be said, is impressive. Michael Taylor’s set mixes warm neons with imposing industrial frameworks while Ben Cracknell’s lighting creates the moods that the banal dialogue fails to convey. There are some odd choices in the songs’ arrangements, but Musical Director Christopher Duffy and his five-piece band pull it off like they’re playing to Wembley’s Twin Towers (remember – it’s the eighties!). Joanna Goodwin’s choreography is a real spectacle, although again, there’s little to suggest that she’d read the script. And the full, immensely talented, company give it their all as they wade through the likes of Madonna, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, Hall & Oates, Status Quo… and the list goes on. And as the show goes on, it becomes increasingly difficult to match what we are hearing with what we are seeing. We wonder how Hall & Oates’ ironic ditty, ‘Family Man’, can underscore tragic (and fatal) heartbreak. An awkward dinner date precedes Heart’s ‘Alone’, delivered with disproportionate bombast. Histrionics has indeed overthrown emotion in this disjointed patchwork of a variety show.

Douglas Day Stewart’s film just happened to be written, released and set in the eighties. But at the time it didn’t define the decade. It seems bizarre that Stewart would allow the level of disrespect to his writing that is being shown here. Never mind the anticipated accusations that the story is inherently dated and misogynous. It’s just homogenous. Which is a shame as it has the potential to court controversy and inspire debate. Instead, we have Helen Reddy’s ‘I Am Woman’, juxtaposed with James Brown’s ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’, drained of the lyric’s original meaning. On the plus side, though, the songs are all crowd pleasers, and there is passion in the performances; even if nowhere else.

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN at the New Wimbledon Theatre then UK Tour continues

Reviewed on 2nd April 2024

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Marc Brenner

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

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Gentleman thepsyinthestalls

Jamie Wilson and Curve are delighted to announce the World Premiere of “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL” which will open at Curve on 6 April 2018 before playing at theatres across the UK and in Ireland until 15 September 2018.

This brand-new musical is based on the 1982 Oscar-winning film starring Richard Gere which tells the story of Zack Mayo who is in training to become a US Navy Pilot. When Zack rolls into boot camp with a bit too much of a swagger, drill Sergeant Foley doesn’t make life easy for him. When he falls for local girl Paula Pokrifki and tragedy befalls his friend and fellow candidate, Zack realises the importance of love and friendship and finds the courage to be himself and win the heart of the woman he loves. It’s only then he can truly become both an Officer and a Gentleman.

The musical includes the hit song from the movie, ‘Up Where We Belong’ along with 80’s classics such as ‘Alone’, ‘Don’t Cry Out Loud’, ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’, ‘Toy Soldiers’ and ‘Material Girl’ and features one of the most iconic romantic scenes ever portrayed on screen.

“AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN” is one of the highest grossing films of all time. The screenplay is by writer and director Douglas Day Stewart which was based on his personal experience as a Naval Officer Candidate. The book was co-written by Douglas and Sharleen Cooper Cohen.

Producer Jamie Wilson said:

“I am thrilled to be presenting “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL” and working once again with Chris Stafford, Nikolai Foster and the team at curve.
For the last three years we have been working on bringing this memorable and iconic story to the stage, and hope that this new adaptation becomes as loved as the film.”

Jamie Wilson is the lead producer on the current productions of “Crazy For You”, the forthcoming world premiere of “Nativity! The Musical” and Curve’s production of “Sister Act”.

Director Nikolai Foster said:

“An Officer and a Gentleman delicately charts the lives of working class, military folk in America in the early 1980s; important lives, often pushed to the margins of society. We are proud to be working alongside the film’s creator Douglas Day Stewart, producer Jamie Wilson and an incredible creative team to present this beautiful and inspiring story. This brand-new adaptation includes iconic 80s songs which create an entertaining, uplifting and original piece of musical theatre, we are excited to share this world premiere with our audiences here in Leicester and across the U.K.”

Nikolai Foster is Artistic Director at Curve, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres. His work at Curve includes Joe Orton’s “What the Butler Saw”, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s “Grease”, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Legally Blonde” Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. He directed the hugely successful recent productions of “Annie” starring Miranda Hart which is now showing in the West End, and “Calamity Jane” which starred Jodie Prenger.

Joining director Nikolai Foster on the creative team are Choreographer Kate Prince, Musical Supervisor Sarah Travis and Designer Michael Taylor.

Kate Prince is the founder and director of ZooNation. She was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2009 for “Into the Hoods” and most recently choreographed the hotly anticipated West End transfer of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”.

Sarah Travis’ previous credits include “Sweeney Todd” for which she won a Tony Award, “Sister Act”, and currently “A Little Night Music” playing at The Watermill Theatre.

Michael Taylor is an Olivier Award nominated designer with his most recent work including “What the Butler Saw”, “Silver Lining”, “A Christmas Carol” and “The Dresser” in the West End.

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN at the New Wimbledon Theatre

★★

“the full, immensely talented, company give it their all as they wade through the likes of Madonna, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, Hall & Oates, Status Quo… and the list goes on”

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN at the New Wimbledon Theatre then UK Tour continues

Reviewed on 2nd April 2024

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Marc Brenner

Best shows in March 2024:

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Jamie Wilson and Curve are delighted to announce the World Premiere of “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL” which will open at Curve on 6 April 2018 before playing at theatres across the UK and in Ireland until 15 September 2018.

“AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN” is one of the highest grossing films of all time. The screenplay is by writer and director Douglas Day Stewart which was based on his personal experience as a Naval Officer Candidate. The book was co-written by Douglas and Sharleen Cooper Cohen.

Producer Jamie Wilson said:

Jamie Wilson is the lead producer on the current productions of “Crazy For You”, the forthcoming world premiere of “Nativity! The Musical” and Curve’s production of “Sister Act”.

Director Nikolai Foster said:

Joining director Nikolai Foster on the creative team are Choreographer Kate Prince, Musical Supervisor Sarah Travis and Designer Michael Taylor.

Kate Prince is the founder and director of ZooNation. She was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2009 for “Into the Hoods” and most recently choreographed the hotly anticipated West End transfer of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”.

Sarah Travis’ previous credits include “Sweeney Todd” for which she won a Tony Award, “Sister Act”, and currently “A Little Night Music” playing at The Watermill Theatre.

Michael Taylor is an Olivier Award nominated designer with his most recent work including “What the Butler Saw”, “Silver Lining”, “A Christmas Carol” and “The Dresser” in the West End.

Lighting Design will be by Ben Cracknell and Sound Design by Tom Marshall.

Casting is yet to be announced.

TOUR DATES 2018

FRIDAY 6 APRIL – SATURDAY 21 APRIL

CURVE, LEICESTER

TUESDAY 24 APRIL – SATURDAY 28 APRIL

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

TUESDAY 1 MAY – SATURDAY 5 MAY

MAYFLOWER THEATRE

MONDAY 7 MAY – SATURDAY 12 MAY

WYCOMBE SWAN

TUESDAY 15 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

MONDAY 21 MAY – SATURDAY 26 MAY

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

MONDAY 28 MAY – SATURDAY 2 JUNE

BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN

MONDAY 4 JUNE – SATURDAY 9 JUNE

LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD

MONDAY 18 JUNE – SATURDAY 23 JUNE

THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE

MONDAY 25 JUNE – SATURDAY 30 JUNE

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE

MONDAY 2 JULY – SATURDAY 7 JULY

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

MONDAY 9 JULY – SATURDAY 14 JULY

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

MONDAY 23 – SATURDAY 28 JULY

THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM

MONDAY 30 JULY – SATURDAY 4 AUGUST

BRISTOL HIPPODROME

MONDAY 6 AUGUST – SATURDAY 11 AUGUST

THE MARLOW THEATRE, CANTERBURY

MONDAY 13 AUGUST – SATURDAY 18 AUGUST

MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

MONDAY 20 AUGUST – SATURDAY 25 AUGUST

THEATRE ROYAL, PLYMOUTH

MONDAY 27 AUGUST – SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

REGENT THEATRE, IPSWICH

MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

THE ALHAMBRA THEATRE, BRADFORD

MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

GLASGOW KING’S THEATRE