NEW YORK—Desperate times call for desperate measures, as shown in the musical comedy “Operation Mincemeat.” It relates a tale both completely unbelievable and actually true. Originally seen in England, where it continues to run, the show is now at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre, complete with the original cast.
The Plan
Charles Cholmondeley (David Cumming), a quiet, painfully shy man, has worked almost unnoticed alongside his colleagues for over six years. But he’s got a plan. He suggests they take the body of a recently deceased man, freeze it to prevent decay, and transport it by submarine to the coast of Spain. There, it will be discovered by German agents who will find documents on the body indicating a false location for the planned Allied invasion.Cholmondeley’s suggestion, which he calls “Operation Mincemeat,” attracts the attention of Ewen Montagu (Natasha Hodgson), a man obsessed with his own self-importance at times. Swayed by Montagu’s enthusiasm, and their lack of other ideas to suggest to the higher ups, their superior (Zoë Roberts) allows them to proceed.
Working with them are Jean Leslie (Claire-Marie Hall) who is determined to do more for the war effort than simply “get the tea,” and Hester Leggatt (Jak Malone), a long-time secretarial employee who seems most concerned with following the rules.
It quickly becomes apparent, that bringing the plan to fruition is no easy task. Not only must they find a suitable corpse, they must also create an entire backstory for it. That includes identification papers, letters from home, and personal mementos that make this man appear real. The process is put to the test via the song “Making a Man.”
For the sake of expediency, certain legal and ethical corners are cut—ones that could bring an end to the entire scheme. That includes “forgetting” to get permission from the dead man’s family before using his body. While these questions are being debated, there’s a rumor of a security leak and the question becomes who among the team can truly be trusted.
The Production
Not only are Roberts, Hodgson, and Cumming part of the original cast, they are also responsible (along with Felix Hagan) for the show’s creation. Each contributed to the book, music and lyrics. They know the material and their respective roles like the back of their hands. They change characters, accents, and other idiosyncrasies at the drop of a hat.Cumming is great as Cholmondeley. He’d much rather be around insects than people. His halting speech and terrible jokes show him to be a man with an inner fire, but he’s so introverted that he’s afraid to speak to anyone.
Hodgson does a good job as Montagu, whose optimism and love for flouting the rules is tempered with a streak of chauvinism and obsessive need for the limelight.
Malone stops the show as Leggett when, in dictating a letter from the dead man’s girlfriend (“Dear Bill”), she slowly reveals her own personal experiences from the previous world war. In the process, she transforms from a jaded employee into a woman full of passion and pain. Leggett also takes Jean under her wing. She shows the younger woman how to make a real difference while working behind the scenes. It isn’t all about seeking glory or medals.
Some Distractions
There are times when the show goes too far over the top. A comedy bit with a Spanish coroner (Cumming), tangled telephone wires, and numerous hats goes on too long. A sequence entitled “A Glitzy Finale” is completely unnecessary and takes away from what has gone before. There are also two musical numbers, “All the Ladies” and “Das Übermensch,” which, while quite enjoyable, really don’t advance the plot.
Despite some missteps, the overall arc of “Operation Mincemeat” comes together with humor, song, and more than a little wistfulness as it explores an overlooked piece of history that, if things didn’t tun out the way they did, the world might be different today.
