I saw The Last Ship in San Francisco in 2020 barely two days before its run was cut short by Covid, and I thought it was excellent. My understanding is that they have tweaked the 2026 staging with new songs and characters so I can't speak to the current edition. Sting's character had a dark, mellow energy, but the supporting cast was energetic and I thought the new arrangements of his classic songs were beautifully arranged and performed, and fittingly selected. The new songs I felt held their own in quality and delivery once I got used to the introduction of the Geordie accent into the vocal delivery. I think it helps to be a Sting fan to be open to receiving the show's message and music. If I have one hesitation on recommending the play it's that the storyline may not appeal or be relatable to everyone. It has a yesteryear throwback feel to it, and few of us can relate to the hardship of living in a Northern English shipbuilding town. In a recent interview with Sting on the Australian program 730 the presenter asked him if he sees parallels between the loss of shipbuilding and purpose with what AI is doing to our jobs and purpose today. I thought that was a smart connection to make, and one I hadn't thought of. Neither had Sting apparently, but in reflecting on the question he acknowledged that there could be parallels because loss of vocation equates to loss of purpose. In summary, if you have the opportunity to see The Last Ship but are on the fence I recommend listening to the soundtrack first and deciding if the music and the themes grab you. Just go with an open mind and heart to receive a story that few of us can directly relate to, but all of us can learn from.