An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

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How far would you go to get away from your life and hopefully into something better? Well for the girls at a factory in Port Townsend, Washington the answer is simple. Meet one of the Naval officer cadets at the local camp, get them to fall in love and marry you, then whisk you away to the romantic life of a naval officer’s wife Now, if all this sounds a mite familiar, it’s because it’s the basic plot of the 1982 romcom, An Officer and a Gentleman which has been turned into a musical of the same name and has landed at the New Wimbledon Theatre as part of its UK tour. Lynne and I went along to check it out.

Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifki in An Officer and a Gentleman, credit Marc Brenner.
Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifki in An Officer and a Gentleman, credit Marc Brenner.

It’s the first day of training at Port Rainier Aviation Officer Candidate School and the new budding officers are nervous. Zack Mayo (Luke Baker) the pretty much estranged son of a Naval Petty Officer called Byron (Tim Rogers) is there along with the other trainees ready to begin twelve gruelling weeks of training to become a naval officer and, hopefully, pass on to fast jet training. Like all new intakes, the cadets have their own reasons for being there. For Sid Worley (Paul French) it’s about tradition – his father is an Admiral – and to emulate his deceased naval aviator brother. Casey Seegar (Olivia Foster-Browne) is joining the programme as her means of getting out of the ghetto and, hopefully, being the first female fast jet pilot. Whatever their reasons, it is the job of Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Jamal Crawford) to get them through the training or more likely only get half or less of the intake through to graduation. In the local town, Paula Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon) and her friend Lynette Pomeroy (Sinead Long) are talking about getting out of their dull routine jobs and into a better life. Lynette has a plan that while not exactly original is potentially simple and effective. She is going to bag her a naval aviator at the first formal dance in the Officers Club. Paula is more wary. Having been warned of the perils of the aviators by her mother Esther (Melanie Masson) and Aunt Bunny (Wendi Harriott) the last thing she is interested in is romance with a man in uniform. But nobody knows what the fates have in store for Zack, Sid, Lynette, and Paula and how their lives will evolve over the next twelve weeks.

Now, I haven’t seen the original An Officer and a Gentleman film – apart from the final scene which has been shown so many times and was even used in an episode of The Simpsons – but I know it was/is a favourite 80s romcom beloved by many so I was looking forward to it. I then read this version was going to be a musical, which made me a bit wary. However, turning a much-loved film into a musical can work – see Pretty Woman and Back to the Future. Then I realised it was going to be a jukebox musical rather than have original songs, and my worry level went higher. But Cruel Intentions has shown that the inclusion of well-known songs can elevate a good film to staggering heights on the stage, so I went along with a very open mind. So, did An Officer and a Gentleman: The Musical work for me?

If I’m honest, then no. Not to say the acting, singing, dancing, staging etc weren’t really good. My problem was with the writing. Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen’s book is paper thin with characters that are, on the whole, pretty unlikeable. Not having seen the film, I wasn’t sure who the main protagonists were, and the show really gave no hint until about fifteen minutes in, after what felt like an overly-long rendition of ‘You’re in the Navy Now.’ Once I realised the guy on the motorbike and the nurse were the two heroes, I could concentrate on their story. However, not that much concentration is needed as there is little complexity about the relationships that develop, not just between these two but between everyone and the characters are pretty two-dimensional throughout. I also had concerns with the song choices – not that they are not great – but the way they are used.

Songs in a musical should add to the plot or the character arc and some of the ones used do just that, others feel as if they have been shoehorned in because the first line relates to the story. I could go on about the negatives for me – such as the state of the uniforms on cadets going through basic training which would never have passed muster – but my final word on this is what felt, to me, like negative stereotyping. The plot is riddled with misogyny. Women do not come off well in this show. My final comment – and remember this is only my opinion concerns the scene where Seegar is helped to complete the obstacle race. I’m sure the writers saw the scene as the recruits banding together to help a colleague, but it looked to me like a bunch of white men coming in to help a Black woman who couldn’t manage to achieve something by themself.

Instead, let’s turn to the actors themselves. And this was the major redeeming feature of the show. There are some very powerful performances both from the leads – Luke Baker and Georgia Lennon – but also from the other actors. Particular standouts for me were Olivia Foster-Browne, Melanie Masson, and Wendi Harriott who performed as Casey Seegar, Esther, and Aunt Bunny respectively. I especially loved the renditions of ‘This is a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’ and ‘I am Woman’ which were amazingly powerful.

Director Nikolai Foster puts the cast through their paces – the candidates in particular have a very physical performance and Fight Captain Chris Breistein produces two very realistic and impressive fight scenes. There aren’t that many big dance numbers, but Choreographer Joanna Goodwin has made sure that even if the number is concentrated on just a couple of people, the background actors are moving appropriately.

For me, no matter how good the performances – or how much Jamal Crawford’s Gunnery Sergeant Foley reminded me of my own DI’s during basic training – there was something major missing at the heart of the story which alienated me from the characters, and even the much anticipated, so cheesy it could cover a pizza, ending couldn’t quite save the show. However, for those, like my companion Lynne who like an old-fashioned rom-com with great performers belting out classic tunes, An Officer and a Gentleman: the Musical will be a really enjoyable theatrical event.

3 Star Review

Review by Terry Eastham

Be part of the emotional journey of Zack Mayo, a fearless young officer candidate, and the captivating Paula Pokrifki, whose fiery spirit matches his own. Their encounters ignite a spark that transcends boundaries, awakening a passionate love that defies all odds.

An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical invites you into a world where dreams and destinies intertwine. Don’t miss your chance to experience this captivating romance brought to life on stage.

Book tickets for An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical at New Wimbledon Theatre from Monday 1st April to Saturday 6th April 2024

Performances:
Thursday and Saturday at 14:30
Monday – Saturday at 19:30

View All Shows at New Wimbledon Theatre
93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG, UK

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