British Musicals: ‘Operation Mincemeat – The Musical’ (2019)

British Musicals: ‘Operation Mincemeat – The Musical’  (2019)

Book, Music & Lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson & Zoe Roberts

 

 

 

History

‘Operation Mincemeat’ is a musical by comedy the musical comedy troupe SpitLip (David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts), based on Operation Mincemeat, a Second World War British deception operation (recently turned into a film starring Colin Firth & Matthew Macfayden). Over a dozen characters are played by the five members of cast, including three of the four creators, often gender-swapped.

It was first staged at the New Diorama Theatre near Regent’s Park in 2019, before being remounted at the Southwark Playhouse for runs in 2020, 2021 and 2022, moving to Riverside Studios also in 2022, and then opening in the West End at the Fortune Theatre (recently vacated by ‘The Woman in Black’) in March 2023. It was planned to run until 8^th July 2023, before being extended to 19^th August 2023, then to 23^rd September 2023 based on demand for tickets.

 

Story

It’s 1943, and the Second World War is in full swing. The Allied forces intend to invade Sicily, but need the Germans to move all their troops to Sardinia in order to do so. The problem is given to MI5, with several outrageous plans being drawn up. However, they finally decide to go with one of the most outrageous one, suggested by British intelligence officer, Charles Cholmondeley, which involves the use of a corpse. What could go wrong ?  Everything as it turns out.

 

In A Nutshell

Will MI5’s plans all end up ‘dead in the water’ ?

  

Production

My seat was in the Upper Circle, but I had an excellent view, and was hooked from the opening number, ‘Born to Lead’. The action was frenetic and the songs were in the main very fast, and you had to concentrate to get all of the jokes in them (The woman behind me told her daughter in the interval that she didn’t know what was going on – but it then turned out that she had a similar problem at ‘Hamilton’ which this musical has been favourably compared to). Although each actor played several parts, each had their own main character, with David Cumming as Charles Cholmondeley and Jak Malone as Hester Leggett being my favourites  (the latter broke my heart in his main solo song). The cast was completed by Natasha Hodgson as Ewen Montagu, Zoe Roberts as Johnny Bevan, and Claire-Marie Hall as Jean Leslie  (all excellent). I was laughing from start to (glitzy) finish.

Highly recommended.

 

Operation Mincemeat – A New Musical runs at the Fortune Theatre, London until 23^rd September 2023.

 

Favourite Song

It has to be ‘Dead in the Water’, Charles’ comparison of himself to several different forms of marine life, closely followed by Hester’s heart-breaking ‘Dear Bill’.

 

 

Did I Buy The Cast Recording ?

I will, when it is released in a couple of months' time.  

 

 

 Links

Production Website: https://www.operationmincemeat.com/

Details of the Operation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood' (Roman Theatre of Verulamium, St. Albans)

 

 Written by Lesley Hart, Directed by Marc Small.

 

Originally performed at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 2022 (where it is returning later this year), this is on the surface an adaptation of the first Sherlock Holmes novel, ‘A Study in Scarlet’. However, it is far more complicated than that, the play is set in a blasted world, where two survivors – an actor and a doctor – pass the time by staging the actor’s favourite story salvaged from the flames, ‘ASIS’. As the play continues, and tensions arise around casting, more than just dead bodies with ketchup as blood start to surface.

Somewhere in the middle of this 70 minute play is a wonderful 45 minute dramatisation of the novel, which manages to hit all the plot points brilliantly. However, what about the framing action ?  I enjoyed this very much as well, with the slowly building tensions being excellent, even if the sometimes strong language moved the play out of the arena of ‘family friendly’.

The Roman Theatre in St. Albans where the play was appearing as part of their Open Air Theatre Festival, prior to its return to Pitlochry, was a wonderfully intimate space, and all the audience were almost on top of the two actors. Appearing as Harry (the actor) was Deidre Davis, who for around half of the play played both Holmes & Watson, being ably assisted by Ben Stock as Ash (the doctor). Both were excellent, both in the play within a play and in the surrounding discussions, building to a moving climax.

Highly recommended. 

 

Rating:  (5/5)