With the Sydney world premiere of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN-THE MUSICAL at the prestigious Lyric theatre, this classic love story makes the successful leap from celluloid to the main stage.

The stirring nature of Douglas Day Stewart’s narrative of young Naval recruit Zack (Ben Mingay), who comes from a traumatic background, growing up in a Filipino sewer and suffering abuse from a selfish, alcoholic father, and then falls for a pretty young factory worker Paula (Amanda Harrison), is well suited to a large scale musical format.

The show features all the pizazz and energy of a popular musical with plenty of powerful solo and ensemble numbers, and with big production values, including a wonderful revolving set with bridges of scaffolding for the Navy trainees, and great costumes and lighting design.

There were many musical highlights. Bert Labonte’s, as the tough drill Sergeant Foley, powerhouse delivery of ‘I’ll Be Damned’…Kate Kendall’s, as Lynette, striking delivery of ‘Dirty Little War’, depicting her war tactics to ensnare a future officer. Kendall’s performance as the show’s villain was a stand-out.

As Lynette’s victim Sid, Alex Rathgeber gave a poignant delivery of the plaintive ballad, ‘Be My Wife’. Audiences will be invigorated by the much awaited, show-stopping final number, ‘Up Where We Belong’.

Simon Phillips’s production of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN- THE MUSICAL (book by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper with music and lyrics by Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner) opened at the Lyric Theatre, Star City on Friday 18th May and has new seats going on sale tomorrow.

© David Kary

20th May, 2012

Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN- THE MUSICAL, Lyric Theatre, Star City, Sydney Arts Guide, David Kary