Review: An Officer and a Gentleman


It’s back to the 80s at the Ipswich Regent as a brand new musical, An Officer and a Gentleman, bursts onto the stage. Full of classic 80s tunes this is one show not to miss, as the classic chick flick from 1982 is brought back to life in this brilliant show.

Set in the early 80s in Pensacola, Florida where, unlikely candidate, Zac Mayo enrols at a military training school, wanting to better himself and earn his pilot’s wings. Zac falls for local girl Paula, who herself is trying to train as a nurse whilst, holding down a job at the local paper factory, life is hard for her.

Zac soon makes an enemy of drill Sergeant Foley, who is intent on making life hard for the young trainee. However, his pal Sid is on hand to help and the pair become firm friends.

Zac’s life is rocked when tragedy befalls his friend and fellow candidate Sid, and on the verge of quitting both the course and his dream to fly jets. It is then that he finds the courage to be himself and fight for the woman he loves.

An Officer and A Gentleman is a high-energy production from the start, with clever staging, perfect casting, and great choreography, this show makes for great viewing.

The musical score for An Officer and A Gentleman is like the sound track to the 80s… with hit songs including Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, I Want To Know What Love Is, Livin’ On A Prayer, Heart of Glass, Alone, The Final Countdown, and of course the classic, Up Where We Belong.

This feel good, romantic production is sure to be a hit and is one show that you really don’t want to miss.

An Officer and a Gentleman will be at the Ipswich Regent Theatre until Saturday 1st September. To book you tickets contact the Box Office on 01473 433100.

Review, Wendy Cook, Ipswich24