A Brilliant Musical Comedy

Operation Mincemeat

From the unusual title to the bizarre television commercials advertising the show, OPERATION MINCEMEAT certainly wasn’t on my list of must-see musicals. Well, it most definitely is now! Anywhere this show is playing, I will be in the audience. And may I recommend that OPERATION MINCEMEAT should be on the must-see list of 1.) every musical theatre lover, 2.) all fans of wacky British humor and 3.) for every true history aficionado in Chicagoland. OPERATION MINCEMEAT is absolutely a brilliant musical comedy, and it should definitely not be missed.

Theatergoers are very fortunate right now because we have several truly excellent, not-to-be-missed, productions playing around Chicagoland this Fall. But theatre is ephemeral. It’s like BRIGADOON. It happens in the moment and then it’s over and the moment disappears. The wonderful OPERATION MINCEMEAT is in Chicago for only two short weeks. So, if you enjoy learning about true historical events that are cleverly brought to life; if you love seeing an ensemble of gifted actors performing at the top of their game; if you relish great musical comedy; and if you just want to escape the everyday madness of our depressing world and want to laugh until you cry—get over to the CIBC Theatre for a brilliant musical comedy.

Based upon a true, unbelievable event from 1943, when we were at the midst of WWII, Operation Mincemeat was the code name given to a surprisingly successful act of deception performed by the British military to dupe the Axis Powers. The show opens with “Born to Lead,” a rousing musical number performed in English Music Hall style by Ewen Montagu (a fantastic pants performance by Katie Kleiger) and the rest of the terrific five-member cast. Then we meet Colonel Johnny Bevan (an incredible portrayal by Mariah Copeland). He announces that the British Military are desperately seeking ideas for an undercover strategy that would convince the Germans that the Allied Armed Forces are going to invade Sardinia. But, in reality, once Hitler’s attention gets diverted to the wrong island, the English will instead invade Sicily.

No one comes up with a decent plan. That is until Montagu runs into a sad and dejected Charles Cholmondeley (a delightful and magnificently exuberant performance by Jake Bentley Young). Charlie is an Officer in the British Air Force; he’s also shy, not very assertive and kinda nerdy. Charles also calls himself an amateur naturalist and loves making bizarre references to obscure animals and plants, such as when he answers someone with,“Does a newt have an anus?” It seems that Cholmondeley has developed a strategy to secretly infiltrate Sicily under the unusual code name, Operation Mincemeat. Despite thinking the plan is pretty insane, Montagu teams up with Charlie to present his proposal to Colonel Bevan. After a little convincing, the commanding officer gives a green light to the peculiar plan.

Charlie’s weird and wacky scenario involves dumping a dead body in the ocean, where the Nazis are sure to find it. The papers in a briefcase near his body will contain the “secret plan” outlining the British military invasion of Sardinia. But after tricking the Germans, the English will actually dispatch troops to the island of Sicily. Of course, in order to carry out the maneuver, the British Military will have to secure a corpse, dress him as an English officer carrying faked “official” military papers and then let a British submarine secretly dump the body in the ocean. The unusual plan sounds like it would be simple to carry out, but it’s compounded with an element of danger, moral and ethical concerns, a double agent spying from the wings, and a few other difficulties. In other words, Operation Mincemeat encounters a few bumps in the road…but they’re all hilarious!

OPERATION MINCEMEAT features a creative book, music and lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts. The four talented theatre artists are collectively known as the musical comedy troupe, SlitLip. They make their theatrical debut with this manic musical comedy. The show premiered in 2019 at a small theater in England. After its wild popularity, the musical moved to the Southwark Playhouse in 2021. Then it played London’s West End two years later, where it garnered enthusiastic audiences and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. In 2025 OPERATION MINCEMEAT finally crossed the pond to Broadway. Following the musical’s Tony Award nominations and win, a World Tour began last year. And Chicago is very fortunate to be included in the itinerary.

The production, which is based upon an actual historical event, boasts clever writing, high-energy performances, unbelievably fast-paced scenes and clever songs and choreography. OPERATION MINCEMEAT challenges its five gifted actors with portraying a variety of different characters, of both genders, often changing roles right before the audience! The scenes move equally fast; and a special standing ovation goes to both Ben Stones, for his wildly inventive set and costume designs, and, especially, Mark Henderson, for the most fantastic lighting design theatergoers will ever see! The show’s beautifully directed at breakneck speed by Robert Hastie and skillfully choreographed by Jenny Arnold, hitting each and every beat of the energetic score.

Some of the cast have already been mentioned, but all their names bear repeating. Katie Kleiger is sensational and simply stellar as Ewen Montagu & others; Jake Bentley Young is nothing short of brilliant as the brains behind Operation Mincemeat, Charles Cholmondeley & others; Commanding and feisty Mariah Copeland is excellent as Colonel Johnny Bevan & others; lovely Erin Ramirez is delicate and delightful as Jean Leslie & others; and, last but certainly not least, the incredible Luke Antony Neville is a priceless powerhouse of hilarity when portraying Hester Leggatt & others. Each character is presented with total honesty and yet with great comic timing. And, in addition to being terrific actors, the entire cast is made up of five talented singers and dancers, as well.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented by September 29-October 11 by Broadway in Chicago at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago.

Tickets are available at all Broadway in Chicago box offices, at all Ticketmaster locations, by calling the Chicago Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or by going to www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Matt Crockett