Operation Mincemeat
Left to right is Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, David Cumming, Zoë Roberts, Jak Malone. Credit: Matt Crockett
When you walk out of a show and immediately want to book to see it again, you know that's a great show.
That's Operation Mincemeat.
You may think that the subject matter - the use of a dead body to feed fake information to the Germans during the war - is not your cup of tea. A bit dry and morbid perhaps? All battle plans and pipe smoking? You couldn't be more wrong. This is everyone’s theatrical cup of tea.
Hilarious, clever, original, and surprisingly poignant at times, this musical take on the secret World War II mission is brilliant in both its staging and performance.
Left to right is Zoë Roberts, Jak Malone, Natasha Hodgson and Claire-Marie Hall. Credit: Matt Crockett
Working with minimal scenery and maximum talent, five very versatile actors tell the extraordinary true story with both heart and fun - from pitching the crazy idea to a general, to finally recognising an unknown, unsung hero.
Each player fills multiple roles and they switch between characters in the blink of an eye - occasionally by just putting on a hat!
All of which makes it impossible to pick a stand out performance.
Natasha Hodgson is 'born to lead' as Ewan Montagu, the swaggering, gravelly voiced, British intelligence officer, who teams up with the nerdy Charles Cholmondeley (the fantastic David Cumming) to plan an unusual military deception.
Meanwhile, Zoë Roberts is completely wonderful in every part, from serious general to hapless consulate officer, and Claire-Marie Hall is all feisty courage as new clerk, Jean Leslie, determined to help out with more than just the typing.
All equally marvellous as previously stated with superb comic timing, impressive vocals and astonishing acting range.
However, if pushed to choose a highlight of the show...
Jak Malone as Hester Leggatt. Credit: Matt Crockett
Jak Malone truly touches the heart as prim secretary, Hester Leggatt, and brings a moment of emotional truth to proceedings with his/her rendition of the beautiful love letter, Dear Bill. Of course, he is also the larger-than-life, Spilsbury, a rather dashing sea captain, and on it goes...
Even as I write this, I find it hard to believe that just a handful of people managed to be so thoroughly convincing in such a wide variety of roles, inhabiting them all with ease. Male, female, serious, funny, arrogant, vulnerable and emotional - you are completely drawn in by their performance(s).
Throw in a camp dance number with sparkly Nazis (yes, really) and you have everything you could ever want from a West End musical. Indeed, the vision of David Cumming undulating to 'boom goes the dynamite' will stay with me for quite some time.
If I had any complaint at all, it was that the seats in the albeit-very-beautiful Fortune Theatre had the smallest amount of leg room I have ever experienced. That said, once the action started I didn't care and was so thoroughly entertained throughout that any thought of discomfort went straight out the window.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, I couldn’t recommend this show highly enough and would see it again in a heartbeat.
Note: I was delighted to learn that Operation Mincemeat won the 'What's On Stage' award for Best Musical 2024. A worthy winner and I send all congratulations to the cast, three of whom - Hodgson, Cumming and Roberts, along with co-writer Felix Hagan - also wrote the book, music and lyrics. Bravo!
Operation Mincemeat is at Fortune Theatre in London. Now booking up for 2025.
Monday night tickets, priced at £39.50, are only available through a ballot. Click here for details.
Note: Cast names correct at time of review.