WHEN two creative forces come together it's always a challenge especially adapting a film to stage and then turning it into a musical.

It is a real test whether producers can pull off the magic.

An Officer and A Gentleman - The Musical passes with flying colours.

There's a powerful and sensitive storyline and some greatest hits from the 1980s to remember and enjoy, courtesy of a very tight band in the pit.

A versatile cast and very impressive neon-lit set add to the slickness of this two-and-a-half-hour trip back to the early '80s.

A steel moveable set on wheels quickly converts from a Florida naval base camp to assault course, motel room and barracks.

All very visually strong throughout.

It is the story of Zack Mayo - a moody motorbike-riding misfit who aims to be a jet pilot escaping the shadow of his father.

Luke Baker is convincing as the complex Mayo who falls for local factory girl Paula Pokrifki played by Georgia Lennon hitting the right balance of romance and reality.

Zack and his fellow trainees endure a tough but fair nine week training course where the ringing of a bell means the rookie couldn't cut the all-American mustard.

Putting them through the ropes is Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley played on press night by Lukin Simmonds.

Lukin injects some humanity into the tough, seen-it-all nature of the soldier.

The songs blend well to the narrative and are not shoe-horned in as with some jukebox musical productions.

From Madonna's Material Girl to Hall and Oates classic Family Man you get under the skin of the central characters.

There's a rousing version of hits such as The Tough Get Going, St Elmo's Fire, Heart of Glass, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and The Final Countdown.

Douglas Day Stewart who wrote the film screenplay based it on his own background and has co-written the stage book with Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directir Nikolai Foster achieves a well-paced piece of theatre in the process.

Teamwork shines through.

It is a love story taking in loyalty friendship and not giving up on hope.

It all leads to a lovely finale where a new dream begins for lovers Zack and Paula aided by the strings to that beautiful ballad Up Where We Belong.

Four Stars: High-flying storytelling with a stirring soundtrack.

Until Saturday Atg tickets.com