Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
Yesterday evening, Lydia and I hopped on a train and headed into the city centre to attend the press night for Operation Mincemeat, which is currently touring the UK following its award-winning three-year (and still counting!) stint in the West End.
Operation Mincemeat has won numerous awards, including WhatsOnStage and Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, and it quickly became apparent why it has been such a huge success. Right from the beginning, the audience was completely swept up in the story and clearly loving every second of the show.
Based on a true story, Operation Mincemeat tells the tale of how MI5 agents devised a secret plan to derail Hitler’s plans during World War II. It’s a fascinating story and, having read up on the real events behind the musical, it’s incredible to think about the shenanigans going on behind the scenes of the war in order to throw the Germans off the scent of the Allied Nations’ plans.
Of course, no matter how strong the source material may be, it takes an exceptionally talented team to bring it to life in such a brilliant way. Everything comes together perfectly on the stage of Operation Mincemeat to make it truly unforgettable – wonderful sets, clever costumes, quirky characters, effective lighting, fantastic music, a huge helping of hilarious British humour, and enough genuine emotion to tug at your heartstrings. Finishing with the best (“glitzy!”) finale number I’ve ever seen, this show somehow seems to get absolutely everything right.
The score itself was utterly fantastic, helping the musical maintain its fast pace while constantly surprising the audience with its variety. From catchy 1940s-inspired swing numbers to an energetic European EDM-inspired song, the music never became repetitive, and the witty lyrics added even more humour and personality to the production. The cast’s vocals did the score complete justice, delivering every number with energy, emotion, and impeccable comic timing. In fact, the original cast recording has already been added to my music library, and I can already tell it will become one of my favourite albums to listen to – this is definitely not a forgettable score, and the songs stayed with me long after I left the theatre.
The talented cast of five each portrayed a huge number of characters, with women playing men, men playing women, and rapid costume changes making it hard to believe that only five people stepped onto that stage last night. I always enjoy and admire a show with so much multi-roling, and Operation Mincemeat does it exceptionally well. It’s not just about the speed of the costume changes, but how something as simple as the addition of a hat, combined with completely altered body language and accents, can transform an actor into a totally different character.
Jordan Pearson, who was on as the alternate Hester Leggatt (& Others!), was absolutely brilliant. His heartbreaking rendition of the emotional “Dear Bill” had me reaching for the tissues, while other moments had me giggling thanks to his perfect expressions and comic timing. Seán Carey brought the nerdy and socially awkward Charles Cholmondeley wonderfully to life, while Holly Sumpton made a hilarious ‘posh Eton boy’ Ewan Montagu, bullying poor Charlie into helping bring Operation Mincemeat to completion.
Jamie-Rose Monk was excellent as the authoritative Johnny Bevan, but transformed so completely between roles that it was hard to believe it was the same performer on stage. Last, but by no means least, Charlotte Hanna-Williams was perfect as the plucky Jean Leslie, determined to do something truly meaningful for the war effort rather than simply being “the girl who makes the tea”.
The audience, myself included, absolutely adored the show. It was a complete emotional rollercoaster, and prompted the fastest standing ovation I’ve ever seen at the Alex – the entire audience was on their feet within seconds of the bows beginning. And it’s no wonder, because this production really is a masterpiece. I went from laughing to crying in the space of moments, and there were some truly poignant scenes that reminded the audience just how devastating the war was for both the soldiers fighting overseas and the families they left behind. Who would have thought that a musical centred around a dead body during World War II could be so entertaining – or have an audience in absolute fits of laughter?
Operation Mincemeat is playing at the Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 16th May, with a running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. The show is currently continuing its successful West End run while also touring the UK throughout the rest of the year – and it is more than worth the ticket price.
Quite simply, Operation Mincemeat is one of the funniest, smartest, and most emotionally effective musicals I’ve seen in a long time. It perfectly balances sharp comedy with genuine heart, all while telling an astonishing true story in a wildly creative way. With an incredibly talented cast, unforgettable songs, and a finale that leaves you grinning from ear to ear, this is theatre at its absolute best. ★★★★★
Lydia says: Firstly, it was definitely one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. All of it was incredible; the songs were brilliant, the set was fantastic, and I still find it hard to believe there were only five cast members. It’s phenomenal how quickly they can switch between characters with just a minor outfit change and an entirely new voice and way they hold their body. It was a perfect mix of a true story and humour, with some incredibly heartwarming moments as well, particularly the song Dear Bill, which nearly had me tearing up. It’s incredible how much I actually learned alongside enjoying the astounding performance (why can’t schools teach with musical theatre?). I particularly enjoyed the finale, an incredible series of quick changes and hilarious musical numbers. So overall, it was absolutely incredible – it’s hard to find words that even describe it.
