Theatre Review: An Officer and a Gentleman, Wales Millennium Centre

Summary

Rating: ★★★★

Running Dates: Monday 15th April - Saturday 20th April 2024

Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (incl. interval)

Keywords: Musical, Romance, Jukebox, 1980s

Review

Prepare to be taken on a thrilling ride through the highs and lows of US Naval pilot training, delivering a feel-good experience that resonates long after the final curtain falls

This jukebox musical, with its infectious energy and heartwarming themes, is about romance, overcoming the odds and the pursuit of dreams.

Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley guides the class of 1982 through their rigorous 12-week officer candidate training course in Pensacola, Florida. Survival is not guaranteed, and only a select few will earn the coveted opportunity to train as navy jet pilots. The rest may find themselves relegated to mundane desk jobs. Watching this show made me want to revisit Top Gun.

Zack Mayo (played by Luke Baker) wants to become an officer, something his military father never achieved. His love interest Paul Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon) has her own struggles to overcome and is desperate to leave her small factory town. We see struggles with gender and social class inequality. For many of the girls in the play, getting an officer pregnant is their only way of improving their lives.

The simplicity of the set design allows the performances and themes to take centre stage, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

The musical's soundtrack, featuring iconic hits like "It's a Man's World" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", leaves audiences humming tunes long after the show ends. While I did enjoy the music, sometimes this got in the way of plot development. The musical covered darker themes such as abusive childhoods and death, but there wasn’t always enough time to explore this fully when another song was about to start.

Unfortunately the version of Heart’s Alone did miss the mark vocally. But Wendi Harriot's portrayal of Aunt Bunny stands out as a vocal powerhouse, captivating audiences with her stunning performances.

The show is based on an award-winning 1980s film but worth seeing even if you haven’t watched the movie.

Standout Moment: the cast’s performance of Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’

See if: you love 1980s music and musicals based on films

Last impression: a cheesy romcom with non-stop pop

To get tickets for the show click here

We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.

Written by Chloe Howells-Reid