Delivers on every level!

Press tickets for review

There are plenty of reasons to head to the theatre for this show. First off, the soundtrack alone is worth the trip. If you’re a fan of 80s music, you’ll be thrilled by the banging belters, with the likes of “Livin on a Prayer’, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Material Girl’.

At its heart, An Officer and a Gentleman is a beautiful love story that will have you rooting for the main characters from the moment the curtain rises. It tackles serious themes such as mental health and the struggle to succeed against all odds and in the face of adversity. It’s about defying the limitations set upon you and reaching new heights… literally.

I absolutely love musicals, especially ones that make you feel good while also delivering a compelling, emotional backstory. This one does just that. The show strikes that perfect balance of being both fun and profound. It’s the kind of musical that leaves you with a smile on your face, but also gives you something to feel.

Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifki is nothing short of incredible. From the moment she steps on stage, she is instantly likeable. Her rendition of “Alone” is breathtaking—one of those performances where your jaw drops, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The chemistry between her and Luke Baker, who plays Zack Mayo, is beautiful. You genuinely believe in their relationship, and you find yourself cheering them on through every adversity and challenge.

Luke Baker, as Zack Mayo, delivers an outstanding performance as well. His rendition of “I Want To Know What Love Is” alongside Lennon is one of the highlights of the show, perfectly capturing the vulnerability of his character. I especially loved the scene where we see Zack opening up to Paula, which is beautifully performed as a split scene reenactment. Baker is a strong character and has that rough around the edges yet a diamond to his core personality down.

The cast as a whole is incredibly strong, which makes it difficult to single out just a few for praise. However, Paul French as Sid deserves a special mention. He portrays some of the darkest emotions in the show with grace and depth, particularly in his relationship with Lynnette, played by Sinead Long. His heartbreak and disownment is powerful. Speaking of Sinead, she demonstrated the depth of Lynnette’s character beautifully. The desperation and the struggles are perfectly portrayed.

One of the most powerful moments in the show is the performance of “Toy Soldiers” by Lynnette, Sid, Paula, Byron (Tim Rogers), Esther (Melanie Masson), and Zack. It’s a tear-jerker, to say the least—an emotionally charged scene that will stay with you long after the final bow. This was the first of a series of moments that will have you tearing up. If it’s not the salute, it’ll be Family Man and if not then, the final scene is everything you’d want and more to honour the iconic movie. And to think, it very nearly didn’t make the cut!

Another key moment I wanted to highlight, was how the representation of teamwork and Zack’s turning point when he supports Seegar (Olivia Foster-Browne) in making it over the wall. It’s a moment of theatre excellence where we see the cast pull together to iconically lift her up to the wall and as the lights brighten, they’re back in their original spots applauding and cheering for her success. It was such a well performed and symbolic moment.

The show delivers on every level, it’s a high impact choreographed musical that has strong emotional impact. I was completely blown away and can confidently say that I LOVED it!

And let’s not forget about the costumes designed by Michael Taylor. They are simply stunning. That red dress at the end? Absolutely gorgeous. And I think I speak for most of the audience when I say that we certainly appreciated the uniforms.

An Officer and a Gentleman is on at Curve Leicester until 17th August. This is a five-star show directed by our very own, Nikolai Foster, that you won’t want to miss.

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