The opening night of Operation Mincemeat at King’s Theatre on Monday was a thrilling display of talent. Following the unlikely success story of a 1943 British military deception plan, Operation Mincemeat cleverly transformed the story of an underground mission to fool Nazi Germany into a funny, entertaining, and engaging piece of theatre.
A five-person cast, every member of the operation team shined, each playing several different characters – sometimes even in the same scene. Christian Andrews’ malleability stood out in particular. Andrews effortlessly transitioned between playing a wizened female secretary, an intelligent pathologist, a loud American caricature, and more. Robert Hastie’s directional choice to make each character gender-blind was particularly impactful, allowing, for example, actress Holly Sumpton to play a cunning male archetype from a time where women were not allowed power.
The ever-transforming minimalist set allowed the space to shift on a dime from scene to scene. The backdrop mirrored a map made of a grid of lights and several hidden doors that added to the atmosphere of each scene. Even with only five performers in the cast, onstage set transitions happened seamlessly, often with a comedic sense of flair. Phones lined each wall, whose chords were several feet long, making for an interesting prop and use of space when stretched. Throughout the show, the full capacity of the set was gradually revealed, constantly surprising the audience.
The costuming and choreography were absolutely integral parts of this show. While some choreography was cliche, in songs like ‘God That’s Brilliant’ and ‘Just For Tonight,’ the movement illustrated the story as songs moved the plot along. One scene that was particularly impactful involved the constant exchange and entanglement of a brief case, and several hats and phones. The cast members flawlessly executed the swap over the course of five minutes, displaying the beautiful choreographic and directional vision.
Versatile costuming throughout the show allowed Hastie’s gender blindness to shine through. Subtle differences in costumes like ties, glasses, and jackets made it clear which characters were being represented at a given time, and several onstage quick changes were impressive and practical.
Ultimately, Operation Mincemeat was an incredibly entertaining show. Wonderful performances from the actors, coupled with an amazing set and engaging choices by the creative team, made for a very fun night at the theatre.
Operation Mincemeat is running until 7 November at the King’s Theatre. Buy tickets here.
Image by Matt Crockett, provided to The Student for press use.
