Review: AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL at The Regent Theatre*

[Ad-gifted] We were invited to watch the opening night of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent last night.

The production is based on the hugely popular romantic drama, released in 1982 of the same name. Directed by Taylor Hackford and with screenplay written by Douglas Day Stewart, it was a story based on Stewart’s own real-life experiences of being a naval aviation officer candidate in America. Richard Gere and Debra Winger starred in the leading roles, and the box office takings and the popularity of the film made it one of the most successful films of the decade.

Curve Theatre have artfully taken the bones of the story and recreated it for the stage – with a very talented cast – into a vibrant musical, packed with well-known songs and set off with some nicely choreographed, energetic dancing. There is a generous cast of 19 actors and some clever use of lighting and props that subtly enhance the scenes without overcrowding them.

Zack Mayo, played by James Wilkinson-Jones, the understudy (on this particular night), has joined the officer training programme and is struggling with keeping up, not least because of his own demons holding him back. His best mate, Sid Worley (played by Paul French), is there to help and support him, but Sergent Foley (played by Jamal Crawford), who is in command of the training, seems to actively dislike the young Mayo and tries his best to get him removed from the programme.

Meanwhile, a local factory means that there is plenty of female talent on hand to entertain the hard-working would-be officers in their down time. But they come with a warning: young girls are known to trap these recruits into marriage by the not-so subtle ploy of getting pregnant. Boys beware! These local girls could be your undoing.

Zack and Sid soon pair up with a couple of factory girls, and lo and behold, there is a pregnancy scare. Poor Sid quits the programme to marry young Lynette, only to find that she isn’t pregnant and she doesn’t want to marry him now that he is no longer destined for a high-flying career. Sid kills himself in desperation, but our hero Zack makes it through the tough training and finally also gets his girl.

What I thought of the stage production

It has been a few years since I last saw the film. I remember it, although some details are vague. I have to admit that it was not one of my favourites. I never warmed to the film’s Sargent Foley and I found Richard Gere a little wooden as the leading man, Zack Mayo.

Now what was recreated on stage was altogether brighter, sassier, more energetic and had a real buzz. The actors owned their roles and sang their hearts out. Sargent Foley was awful in a most enjoyable way, and you could just catch a sparkle of humour beneath his harsh demeanour. The character of the female recruit, Casey Seagar (played by Olivia Foster Browne) was raw and vulnerable, and the audience gave her a hard clap when she took her bow at the end.

Paula’s mum, Esther (played by Melanie Masson) had a powerful and beautiful voice; she was a joy to listen to, and that’s not to take away from any of the other of the talented bunch. In the character of Sid Worley (played by Paul French) you could feel the sadness in his demeanour well before his life started to crumble – it is great when an actor can deliver subtle emotion through what was mostly a very jolly evening.

There was a near-full house for the opening night, and we gave a standing ovation at curtain call, because every one of the cast and crew deserved it. The stage performance worked really well for me and I can happily say that it was more entertaining than the film. There were lots of songs to sing along to, concluding with the Best Original Song, Up Where We Belong from the 1982 film.

Cast

James Wilkinson-Jones (understudy) as Zack Mayo to cover Luke Baker
Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifiki
Jamal Crawford as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley
Paul French as Sid Worley
Julia Jones (understudy) as Lynette Pomeroy to cover Sinead Long 
Melanie Masson as Esther Pokrifki 
Tim Rogers as Byron Mayo
Olivia Foster-Browne as Casey Seegar
Lucas Piquero as Eduardo Cortez
Chris Breistein as Finman
Wendi Harriott as Aunt Bunny
James Wilkinson-Jones as Troy
Danny Whelan as Craig
The cast is completed by Julia Jones, Etisyai Philip, Mia Harrison, Lukin Simmonds, Will May, and Ellie Grace Cousins

Creatives

Nikolai Foster Director
Michael Taylor Set and Costume Designer
Joanna Goodwin Choreographer
George Dyer Musical Supervisor and Orchestrations
Ben Cracknell Lighting Designer
Tom Marshall Sound Designer
Sam CoxWigs Hair and Make-up Designer
Christopher Duffy Musical Director
Debbie O’Brien Casting Director
Michaela Powell Associate Director
Christian Knight Associate Choreographer
Jamie Wilson, Jack Maple, Gavin Kalin, Jason Haigh-Ellery Producers 

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are priced from £13 to £98.50. For Groups (10 or more), call their dedicated Groups team on 020 7206 1174 or email groupsales@atgtickets.com. A transaction charge applies to online/phone bookings.

How do I book tickets to watch AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL?

Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7615 or by visiting ATG’s website here. Age Guidance 13+. Please be advised An Officer and a Gentleman contains themes of an adult nature and strong language.  Expect to have your bag searched on entry. There was live piano music in the piano bar beforehand and at the interval, and plenty of options for buying drinks and snacks which means that it is never too crowded to get served here at the Regent.

How long is the show for and what are the timings?

The show will be running until Saturday, 11 May 2024.  Evening shows will be performed at 7.30pm while the matinee will be on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm.

Where is The Regent Theatre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent?

Piccadilly
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 1AP
Tel: 08448717649

About Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Constructed in 1929 as a cinema, it is one of several theatres in the city centre and one of two owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. The building was converted for full-time use as a theatre in 1999, and since then has hosted a number of shows and musicals. The theatre is also the northern base for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera.

About Curve

Curve is a spectacular state-of-the-art theatre based in the heart of Leicester’s vibrant Cultural Quarter. Over 750,000 people a year engage with Curve through performances and projects at our home in Leicester, across the UK and internationally. Curve has developed a reputation for producing, programming and touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work, dance and opera. All of this is presented alongside a dynamic mix of community engagement, artist development and learning programmes, which firmly places audiences, artists and communities at the heart of everything we do.

They are a registered charity (number 230708) and this supports their work with people of all ages and backgrounds, enabling them to access, participate in and learn from the arts, nurturing new and emerging talent and creating outstanding, award-winning theatrical experiences. Unlike any other theatre in the UK, they have no traditional backstage area. Audiences can enjoy the full theatre making process, peek behind the scenes and maybe even spot an actor or two dashing from the stage to their dressing room or enjoying a coffee in our Café. Their curved façade is made from 1,192 tonnes of steel and 46000m² of glass.

Tips / Information

Review by : Metia Bethell Egan

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Photo Credit: Regent Theatre/Marc Brenner

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.