Operation Mincemeat at Nottingham Theatre Royal Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Based on a true story, multi-award-winning musical Operation Mincemeat is wowing audiences in Nottingham at the Theatre Royal on its nationwide tour.
The story, a spy comedy, created by David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Felix Hagan and Zoe Roberts debuted in 2019 with Cumming, Hodgson and Roberts also starring in the musical and achieving Olivier nominations. How these creative minds transform a true story about WWII intelligence into a whirlwind musical with perfect timing and razor-sharp lines really is incredible.
The setting is MI5 during World War II where deception and double-crossing are rife. This group of agents are set the task of working out a plan to redirect Hilter’s troops to Sardinia so the British Army can invade Sicily.
Katy Ellis plays Ewen Montagu a confident Naval intelligence representative who has the charm to convince John Bevan, played by Jamie Rose Monk, head of the London section that a proposal by the bumbling Charles Cholmondeley, played by Sean Carey, is the winner and they set about a plan involving a dead body carrying fake military plans planted as bait to get into the hands of the Germans to misdirect them. Joined by Christian Andrews, playing a perfect Hester Leggatt and Charlotte Hanna-Williams as Jean Leslie, two female agents who prove that women have an important contribution to make.
Directed by Robert Hastie the storytelling is clear throughout the chaos executing a masterclass in theatrical economy guiding the five person cast through dozens of roles without losing the plot Ben Stones’ inventive set and costume design switches from war room, to basement to night clubs evoking the essence of 1943 with smart and imaginative design.
I loved the cross gender casting with male characters playing women and the female characters playing men, which added another layer to the show’s satire, humour and heart. Having women play male figures parodies the pompous, self-important patriarchy of wartime MI5 exposing the absurdity of the upper class British masculinity. The men playing female characters such as Hester Leggett gave the character depth and respect and flipped historical hierarchy on its head.
All of the cast were like they were born for their parts, and I felt I couldn’t take my eyes off them with the whole audience transfixed. The five strong cast play multiple parts as well as their own main character and it is done in such a seamless way – full of energy and they look like they are really enjoying themselves which in turn is infectious to the audience and everyone is on their feet by the end to a rousing applause.
The play also honours the Welshman whose story is one of the most tragic, and accidentally heroic as his body is used for the corpse the plan needs. It wasn’t until 1996 that historians discovered his true identity and added an inscription to his tombstone.
Running for around 2 hours and 35 minutes with a 20 minutes interval this is an amazing night out and a brilliant show that will make you laugh and educated in equal measures.
Rating: 5/5
Performing until Saturday 2 August with tickets from £28.50 book your tickets here for this limited run.. www.trch.co.uk