An Officer and a Gentlemen - Curve Leicester & UK Tour

I picked up a flyer for this yesterday. There are a couple of gaps in the dates, but so far there are 19 stops on the tour, which starts in Leeds at the end of April, and ends in Glasgow on 15 September 2018. Emi can see it in Caerdydd, and Burly can see it in Manchester. Those of us fortunate enough to live in God's own county have three choices. Aren't we lucky?

"It's feel-good soundtrack includes the hit song from the movie 'Up Where We Belong' along with many 80s classic anthems including 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun', 'Material Girl', 'Don't Cry Out Loud' and 'Alone'."

Given the crowd it will attract, I wouldn't be surprised to see the likes of Marti Pellow or Lee Mead involved.

Lifting anything up where it belonged might be impossible for both. Pellow has trouble even reaching and holding notes.

I think it's rude they haven't asked me to be in it. My Joe Cocker impression is second to none.

Emma Williams has been cast as the lead alongside Jonny Fines.

Also includes Ray Shell and Iain McIntosh.
  
Full cast HERE

I wasn't going to book but will to see Emma Williams.

Jesus, the amount of times my Mum had this out of the video shop is embarassing. For the likes of her this can surely only disappoint?

I just saw the dress rehearsal. So this doesn't actually feel like a jukebox musical. The songs and how they fit in the story is actually quite brilliant and somehow really works, i was really quite dubious about that going in. I didn't see how it could work. The selection is pretty genius. And what i think makes it good is that even though these are various styles and well known pop hits, they are all re-orchestrated (or completely changed) in such a way they all feel like they belong to the same show and it's an actual score. I was really impressed with that. There was a certain 'sound' to the show.

I'm not going to review performances because it wasn't even a preview so it seems unfair. But just to say...some were great, some were good, some were...not. (and i'll add a "yet" to that...). The best person was Iain Macintosh, who was great. And btw also i think is the best character and has the best story even though he's a 'supporting' role. There are some brilliant voices on display.

I think that Act one needs a bit of work. Both in terms of the book/story/staging but also the cast didn't seem as on top of it for some reason. I loved act two though and almost thought it was a different production.

There is HEAVY use of projection and Video. As in constant. Because the whole back of the stage is a screen and that's not all. The whole stage is used for projections and video effects.. It relies on it. The rest of the set is good for a tour. There are elements where you are watching video of the characters outside the stage setting like doing drills and assault courses in muddy fields and also an underwater segment (they actually did for real apparently) and also some flashbacks with 'younger' versions of them.

The show was a lot different than i expected, it's pretty dark and gritty with some very dark/uncomfortable themes and there is nudity, pretty graphic sex scenes and a lot of swearing and derogatory terminology. Especially the second act but within that were so of the best and most powerful moments and visuals. I think anyone thinking they are going to some fluffy piece of cheese and a party (there are almost no 'party lets have a sing along woop!' songs) will be a bit disappointed on the whole. Which is.
actually something i'm pleased about because i assumed it would be like that.

The ending from the film is there of course but even that managed not to be as cringe as i assumed as well.

So yeh, i enjoyed it. But for sure act 1 needs work. But it was only a dress rehearsal so i'm sure it will get it.

Oh bum. I’m probably going to have to go see this now too.

There's plenty of availability at Milton Keynes if you can get over there - week commencing 9th July  😁

Oh lord. Well can i just warn everyone i'm very easy to please.....so....don't blame me if you think it's crap.