WW Reviews

Operation Mincemeat is a joy and puts all the emphasis in the right place.

The plot follows the real-life WWII operation, Operation Mincemeat, where a deceased man was used to trick the Nazis into moving their troops out of Sicily. Disguising the deceased man as a pilot carrying important documents with a fake allied invasion plan to invade Sardinian. The plan was a success and is credited with saving the lives of many men who may have died had they been facing a larger Axis force in Sicily.

I was extremely nervous to watch this show which had been advertised as a comedy. My fear came from the worry that men who fought and died, far too young, for our right to go to the theatre and see such a show would be laughed at. I have lost someone young and it is truly devasting – it changes you. I was worried that such a huge loss for our country to allow our freedoms would be mocked.

The show started and my fears were proved. Euan Montagu dismissed the efforts on the front touting himself as the brightest mind. Montagu also mocked the man who had died and diminished his life. As we were heading towards the interval, I was more and more shocked by the 5 star ratings I had seen from innumerable reviews.

I was wrong.

The song ‘Dear Bill’ changed everything. For me, it defines this musical and completely summarises loss, loneliness, the hurt and pain, the uncertainty, the love that can no longer be given back, the snatched opportunities of the future and the need to stay composed and be able to carry on with your life, that comes from the death of the young.

I suddenly saw this story for what it was. The attitudes of Euan Montagu being scorned by those around him and finally him seeing the value in others, not just the use of others for his own benefit. The character of Hester Leggatt is a true standout who reflects the difficulties of wielding soft power. The musical, for me, came into its own from that point on and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I would love to see the show again knowing now the genius of this show. I believe I would be able to relax and enjoy the first act without the worry or fear that I held on my first viewing (since I wrote this review I have seen the show two more times and I was correct it was so much more enjoyable). It would have taken a mountain for me to enjoy this show, and I got Everest.

The intricacies with which class and accents are used to differentiate between the front line fighting (those who risk their lives and die) and those who are safe at home but working to ensure the safety of the soldiers is an interesting choice. It reflects the dangerous nature of the work of working class men, even today. Although maybe not historically accurate, many upper class men died to save us, it does enhance the attitudes of Montagu and reflect the class divide that still exists in society today.

There were standout performances from Geri Allen and Jonty Peach as Bevan and Leggatt respectively. In particular, Peach never stopped switching roles and yet it felt seamless. It’s only after considering all the roles more carefully did it become apparent how many roles were played by Peach. Indeed, all the five cast members played many different parts during the show. The use of costumes to denote each character was incredibly effective.

The music was consistently excellent throughout with a good balance of emotional and joyful. The emotion being so necessary to remind the audience that whilst the plot seems ridiculous this was still war and many people died. The set was ingenious with the clever use of elements which could be used in multiple contexts. The last ten minutes also boasted a fun surprise which fitted the silly tone of the show.

The overuse of silliness particularly in relation to Charles Cholmondeley who is forever referencing insects was, to me, the only shortcoming. Cholmondeley did have a hobby studying insects outside his work in MI5 but the references to this in the musical are emphasised for comedic effect and I find this to be too silly. However, this did not affect my overall enjoyment of the show as a whole.

The contrast between the optimism and youthful naivety of Jean Leslie and the cynical understanding of Hester Leggatt was perfectly played by Claire-Marie Hall and Jonty Peach. I found Jean to be laughable in her limited understanding of how the world operated but this was dealt with gently by Leggatt. I also recognised both character types as I was an admin assistant at eighteen and remember being just as naive as Jean. It was almost like laughing at my younger self.

Overall, this felt a genuine and emotional piece that laughed at the absurdity of the plot and the attitudes of elitists but refused to look down on or laugh at those who died for our freedoms. In particular, the respect given to Glyndwr Michael was what made this musical truly brilliant and if you don’t know the name ‘Glyndwr Michael’ I suggest you head at once to The Fortune Theatre to catch Operation Mincemeat. Even if you know the name and the plot of the real operation but are fearful as I was of seeing this comedy show – don’t be – and give it a chance because it may just charm you. In fact, upon a second and third viewing I would recommend this show to all as a funny but heartfelt piece of theatre that manages to walk the extraordinary tightrope of getting the balance of respect and comedy just right.

For information about Operation Mincemeat both in London and in New York head to*: https://operationmincemeat.com/

*This review is not sponsored or affiliated with Operation Mincemeat. All tickets were bought and paid for by WWReviews.

Photography by: Matt Crockett

Performance:
Saturday 28th September 2024
20:00
The Fortune Theatre

Cast:

Ewen Montagu & Others	Emily Barber
Charles Cholmondeley & Others	Seán Carey
Johnny Bevan & Others	Geri Allen
Hester Leggatt & Others	Jonty Peach
Jean Leslie & Others	Claire-Marie Hall