OPERATION MINCEMEAT: A NEW MUSICAL

The title "Operation Mincemeat" elicits thoughts of a rich mixture of meat blended with fruits, spices, and alcohol, reminiscent of a luxurious dish enjoyed in Britain during the 13th century. Over time, the term evolved into a figurative expression around 1660, conveying an opponent's decisive defeat or dismantling. Drawing from a remarkable true story, the new musical Operation Mincemeat tells about the deception operation by two British officers, the charismatic Ewen Montagu and the inept Charles Cholmondeley — and a cunning British military ruse conceived during World War II, a plan designed to deceive Hitler and an estimated 90,000 German soldiers by manufacturing top-secret military documents attached to a corpse that mysteriously drifted ashore, carrying with it the false intelligence that the Allies were planning an attack on Sardinia, to divert the Germans away from their true target, Sicily. To pull off the ploy, they obtained the corpse of an homeless man, devising an elaborate, fictitious life of a polished officer named Major William Martin whose plane unexpectedly crashed, and using informants to sell the story of needing to find the soldier and his briefcase, filled with personal items that washed up on the shores of Spain before the Germans—a humorous scene of the play performed by Copeland, Kleiger, Ramirez and Young. They used a British submarine to transport the body. They released it into the ocean to drift ashore, making it look like the major had survived a plane crash at sea and then drowned.

The two-act play is a captivating masterpiece featuring 19 beautifully composed songs from the talented comedy troupe SpitLip David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, with each song complementing the narrative, aiding an unforgettable production. It opens with the ambitious anthem "Born to Lead. The production features several amazing songs. It features the playfully decisive "Act as If" and the witty Deutschrap, German-style rap song Das Übermensch, which translates to "overman" or "superman."

This satirical farce, with sharp wit and clever humor, is a Must-See. The five-member cast, including Mariah Copeland, Katie Kleiger, Luke Anthony Neville, Erin Ramirez, and Jake Bentley Young, each providing an incredible performance, showcased their remarkable skills by effortlessly taking on multiple roles, while seamlessly transitioning between characters, swapping not only genders but also costumes. Filled with laughter and vibrant energy, this high-energy, fast-paced musical comedy is a master class in delivering a spectacular comic performance.

Kleiger delivered a stellar performance as the self-absorbed Ewen Montagu, bringing an engaging level of arrogance and charm to the role. Copeland also delivered an outstanding performance as Colonel Johnny Bevan, while Young, who played the inept Charles Cholmondeley, who concocted the ingenious idea, and Ramirez as Jean Leslie, the ambitious go-getter, proving to be much more than just a secretary or a tea-fetcher, were equally outstanding. Still, Neville as the sarcastically witty and stern Hester Leggatt was my standout star of the play. His performance of "Dear Bill," a touching song based on a letter formulated for the officer, delivers an emotional scene with such passion and refined grace that it's deeply moving. At the end of the play, they reveal the true identity of the man they fictionalized as the officer: Glyndwr Michael, a homeless man whose life was cut short by rat poison, honoring what he, his body, did for the war, saving countless lives.

Operation Mincemeat is brilliantly choreographed and exquisitely executed, creating an unforgettable experience. For two hours and 35 minutes, this play is engaging and entertaining from the opening curtain.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

CIBC Theatre

OPERATION MINCEMEAT: A New Musical

Written by SpitLip (comprised of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts)

Directed by Robert Hastie

Choreographer: Jenny Arnold

Now through October 11, 2026

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