An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical review at Bristol Hippoodrome
Posted on: 2024-09-03
Our rating:
A standing ovation at the end of the show says it all!
Review of An Officer and a Gentleman at The Bristol Hippodrome
I’ve had to check with Google but it is actually over 40 years since An Officer and a Gentleman hit our cinema screens, 1982 to be precise. That film confirmed Richard Gere’s profile as a lead actor following up his big break in American Gigolo a couple of years earlier. An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical has returned to The Bristol Hippodrome for a week long run from 2-7 September 2024.
Opening up to renditions of In The Navy as the candidates are given short shrift by Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley portrayed excellently by Jamal Kane Crawford memories of the film come flooding back and within 10 minutes the rest of the cast are then introduced through the first paper factory scene with Paula Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon) and Lynette Pomeroy (Sinead Long) plotting on how this new batch of wannabe pilots might be their ticket out of Pensacola, accompanied by renditions of It’s A Man’s World.
Expect a lot of dancing, a lot of tunes all of which you’ll know, and a huge round of applause for Casey Seager (Olivia Foster-Browne) for making it up the wall in a well choreographed scene to the delight of all of the audience.
The lead of Zack Mayo was played by Luke Baker, who I hadn’t clicked that the hair he had in the first scene was all gone before his return to the stage. A good voice and believable character really stole the show and the later fight scene with Sergeant Foley was a great highlight. Whoops of delight, as expected from all the ladies in the crowd, as he turned up at the top of the tower in his ceremonial white suit to whisk away his princess.
Over 20 songs are included in the musical with Debbie Harry’s Heart of Glass, Kids in America, Madonna’s Material Girl as well as bangers from Bon Jovi and Europe amongst others and you could tell a few of the audience wanted to join in, with one young lady deciding to have a boogie to herself in the stalls.
With a small cast of just 16 that I counted aside from a couple of shifters who manipulated the scaffold tower expertly inbetween scenes to transform from army barracks to The Tides Inn, a paper factory, hotel and many more it was clear that the lighting operator might be one of the stars of the show and they did not disappoint. With the scaffold being spun round between scenes and clever use of the spotlights and cast entering the stage with beds, or tables, or bars there was good continuity throughout and the sound effects, even down to the background radio in the dinner scene were well thought out and delivered meticulously. It’s not just the cast on the stage that make the show so well done to all those behind the scenes that have made this a memorable performance. A standing ovation at the end of the show says it all!
Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes which includes a 20 minute interval and it’s a great feel good show (aside from the sad bit…) that will have you smiling on your way home.
Tickets available now here and shows run daily at 7.30pm until Saturday 7th September 2024 with additional matinee performances at 2.30pm on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
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Bristol born and bred despite the name, Brendan has been working in the digital media sector for the last 15 years and advertising for the last 25 years. A wealth of knowledge about the city and more importantly at how to help businesses get as much online exposure as possible. Call Brendan on 07876 735153 or email Brendan@365bristol.com.
