Agents, assemble! Operation Mincemeat lands at the Grand Opera House York this week, and this mission is one you’ll want to accept.
Following its critically acclaimed West End success, a Broadway transfer that earned multiple Tony nominations, and an ever-growing legion of devoted fans, the musical created by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts has finally embarked on its first UK tour.
Remarkably, it remains one of those rare productions that appears to unite audiences and critics alike, with one clear verdict: this show is theatrical genius.
For the uninitiated, Operation Mincemeat is based on an extraordinary true story. During the Second World War, British intelligence devised an audacious plan to disguise the 1943 allied invasion of Sicily using none other than a dead body and a carefully constructed web of fake documents. On paper, it hardly sounds like the foundation for a riotously funny musical, yet theatre company SpitLip have transformed this remarkable piece of history into one of the most inventive and entertaining productions of recent years.
It is slick, singular and utterly sensational. Five performers portray more than 50 characters between them, rarely leaving the stage and switching identities with astonishing speed and precision. Having seen the production several times in the West End, I was curious to discover whether its intimate magic would survive the leap to larger touring venues. Judging by the immediate standing ovation that greeted the curtain call, there was never any cause for concern.
Whilst four members of the company have previously appeared in the West End production, Jamie-Rose Monk joins the cast for the first time as the steadfast Colonel Johnny Bevan. Monk excels as the exasperated figure attempting to keep her increasingly chaotic colleagues on task, delivering rapid-fire lyrics with ease whilst also treating audiences to memorable supporting roles, including the delightful sangria-loving Haselden.
Christian Andrews provides one of the evening’s most moving moments with Hester Leggatt’s performance of ‘Dear Bill’. The musical monologue brings the action to a poignant standstill, offering a touching reminder of the human cost behind the operation, creating a striking contrast to the surrounding chaos. As Ewen Montagu, Holly Sumpton is brimming with confidence, charm and ego, with a clear licence to thrill; with every perfectly timed one-liner landing warmly with the audience.
And then there’s Seán Carey as the wonderfully endearing Charles Cholmondeley, Montagu’s ‘lolloping sidekick’. His performance is packed with comic detail, impeccable timing and, of course, an unexpectedly memorable amount of information about newts. Completing the quintet is Charlotte Hanna-Williams as Jean Leslie, who blossoms under the supervision of Hester, intelligent and courageous, she is rooted in something bigger than herself.
Yet the true masterstroke lies within Robert Hastie’s direction. Characters emerge with the addition of a single prop, transformations happen in plain sight, and every role is so clearly defined that even the elaborate disguises become entirely unnecessary. The result is theatre-making of the highest order; astonishingly clever and seemingly effortless.
Ben Stones’ ingenious set and costume design provides a playground for the cast’s endless inventiveness, while Mark Henderson’s lighting design delivers some particularly striking moments, not least an electrifying opening to Act Two. Together, they create a world that supports the storytelling without ever overshadowing it, allowing the performers and the material to remain front and centre.
The British are often accused of being coy, but Operation Mincemeat is a production that deserves anything but restraint. It is wildly original, laugh-out-loud funny, surprisingly moving and executed with military precision.
If you can get your hands on a ticket, do it. This is one classified operation you absolutely do not want to miss.
Operation Mincemeat is at the Grand Opera House York until Saturday 6 June. Tickets start from £25 and are available here.
