The saying about little acorns turning into mighty oaks has never been more apt. Operation Mincemeat started life in the smallest of fringe theatres and gradually, via great reviews and word of mouth buzz, it has moved to bigger and bigger venues. Now it finally opens in the West End and shows the gargantuan well-established guns how musical theatre should be done.
The true story that Mincemeat is based on might be familiar. There have been various books and films including a recent Colin Firth movie that seemed to come and go without making anywhere near as many waves as this stage production by the modest Split Lip ensemble. It's WW2 and MI5 has the brainwave to plant some false papers on a body washed up in the Mediterranean so that when the Germans find the corpse they will send their troops in the wrong direction, leaving the way open for the Allies to steal a march on them.
The musical tells the story briskly and hilariously while also touchingly, with a tribute to homeless person Glyndwr Michael, whose body was used on the mission. The songs are catchy and in various styles. A strident funky set-piece pointing out that women were an integral part of the team is more Beyonce than Bob Fosse. And while you can't have dancing Nazis without evoking the spirit of Springtime For Hitler Operation Mincemeat has a very strong, appealing flavour all of its own.
Despite the trad elements of the story – this is about a bunch of public school toffs running the war (including a young Ian Fleming played by Zoe Roberts, cue a plethora of James Bond references) it is also a very modern production. The casting is gender blind with men playing women and women playing men. In fact the cast play so many characters it is often hard to believe there are only five performers. And while the costumes are authentic for the 1940s David Cumming as Charles Cholmondeley makes no attempt to hide his very contemporary topknot.
Apparently this was the last roll of the dice for the troupe, who were on the cusp of calling it a day when they came up with this winner. Cumming, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts wrote the book, music and lyrics are by Felix Hagan. Thank goodness they rolled that dice. It might be mainly set in map-covered war room offices, but it creates a whole world of fun.
With a running time of over two hours I was tempted to say that Operation Mincemeat is a little overlong but I can't see anything that can be cut. The songs are by and large insanely infectious (one moving number sung by Jak Malone about loss is a clear stand-out) and the story moves breathlessly fast. Despite a minimal set it feels like a major production. I say minimal, but the – saving-the-best-til-last finale has all the glitz and glamour trappings of a West End spectacular. There might be more lavish, extravagant shows on in London at the moment, but just as the Allies did to the Germans in WW2, this makes mincemeat of the opposition.
Operation Mincemeat – Booking until August 19. Buy tickets here.
Picture: Matt Crockett
