OPERATION MINCEMEAT Reviews- Page 3

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 11:33am

this will uncountably me an early post Tony casualty.     

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 11:55am

sppunk said: "Quite bad reviews. Word of mouth probably counters then but man, rough night"

I haven't seen yet and have only heard bad word of mouth from multiple friends who have seen it.  Sounds like another British to America musical that doesn't translate.  I was told if you find Spamalot, Monty Python funny then this is for you.  If that is not your humor, this is a rough sit.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:02pm

mrshowbiz90210 said: "this will uncountably me an early post Tony casualty."

Some of y'all are really acting delulu this morning.

It is making it's weekly (which is low compared to other current musicals), playing to sold out houses and has a decent average ticket price, plus has already announced 2 extensions

this is going to far outlast shows like Boop and Smash 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:06pm

bwaydreamer said: "sppunk said: "I was told if you find Spamalot, Monty Python funny then this is for you. If that is not your humor, this is a rough sit."

I absolutely hated Spamalot and am not a fan of Monty Python, but I really loved Operation Mincemeat... It's a super solid show top to bottom with an extremely strong book and score IMO. Yes, there are some similarities between the two shows, but where I found Spamalot to be obnoxious and brash, I found Operation Mincemeat to be charming and refreshing. Just my $0.02.

Updated On: 3/21/25 at 12:06 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:08pm

Right now it's on track to outlast ALL of the new musicals this season.  The few reviews that "disliked" it aren't fans of the style or Brit musicals traditionally.  No surprise..  OM a fantastic show (audiences are up as the lights come up for bows) with an amazing cast, the best book thus far - and the only score I've heard audiences taking out of the theater or humming  in the bathroom.

It, and perhaps Dead Outlaw, have major momentum others may not like.   It's not "America first" but it's a winner.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:10pm

This show is nothing like Spamalot. For me it had the meta self awareness of shows like [title of show], Urinetown, and The Drowsy Chaperone, a sound closer to Matilda, and the patriotic, modern take on history of Hamilton. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:18pm

Kad said: "Although it didn’t get unanimous praise, this was still a well-reviewed production. People need to stop treating reviews as a rave/pan binary.


And these reviews don’t necessarily knock Mincemeat out of the Tony race, either."

Reminder that last year Spamalot! got broadly more positive reviews than Gutenberg!, but the latter still ended up getting the Best Revival nomination.

[themadmarchhare]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:24pm

TotallyEffed said: "This show is nothing like Spamalot. For me it had the meta self awareness of shows like [title of show], Urinetown, and The Drowsy Chaperone, a sound closer to Matilda, and the patriotic, modern take on history of Hamilton."

I swear whenever a British comedy (either a TV show or a play/musical) gets shown in the states it is only ever compared with Monty Python, even when the only likeness they share is that its British and vaguely witty. Its probably because far fewer British sitcoms get shown in the states, but as a Brit is does get a bit tiring to hear 'its just like Monty Python!' about literally anything funny we make!

(Bonus: if its a movie, it'll be Shaun of the Dead)

Although I was quite surprised to see The Goon Show name dropped in one review, which is a radio show I didn't think American's would know about! Not a lot of Brits remember it either tbh

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:31pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Right now it's on track to outlast ALL of the new musicals this season. The few reviews that "disliked" it aren't fans of the style or Brit musicals traditionally. No surprise.. OM a fantastic show (audiences are up as the lights come up for bows) with an amazing cast, the best book thus far - and the only score I've heard audiences taking out of the theater or humming in the bathroom.

100%

[Kad]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:40pm

KevinKlawitter said: "Kad said: "Although it didn’t get unanimous praise, this was still a well-reviewed production. People need to stop treating reviews as a rave/pan binary.


And these reviews don’t necessarily knock Mincemeat out of the Tony race, either."

Reminder that last yearSpamalot!got broadly more positive reviews thanGutenberg!, but the latter still ended up getting the Best Revival nomination."

And The Outsiders got a more uniformly mixed critical reception than its major competitors and managed to win Best Musical.

 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 12:42pm

CoffeeBreak said: "
It, and perhaps Dead Outlaw, have major momentum others may not like. It's not "America first" but it's a winner."

Maybe Happy Ending also has momentum and has an extremely compelling reversal-of-fortunes underdog narrative. Whether or not you personally care for the show, MHE is objectively competitive for Best Musical.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 6:07pm

Agree with Kad. Anyone thinking Maybe Happy Ending is not the front-runner for Best Musical is lying to themselves. A British import hasn't won Best Musical since Once in 2012, and it's biggest competition that year was Newsies. These lauded West End transfers have come up short since: & Juliet, Six, Girl From the North Country, Tina, Groundhog Day, Matilda.

Last season, the voters went for the "best" musical with an original score: Water for Elephants was never in contention, and Suffs didn't have enough love behind the overall production, which everyone agreed was lackluster. The Outsiders had an overall strong score, performances, and crucially, direction, to carry it over the line. 

It's too early to tell what the narrative will be this season. But I would bet a lot of money on MHE winning this June.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 6:11pm

VotePeron said: "Agree with Kad. Anyone thinking Maybe Happy Ending is not the front-runner for Best Musical is lying to themselves. A British import hasn't won Best Musical since Once in 2012"

Once actually wasn't an import- it was developed at ART and then premiered at NYTW- but it certainly seems like it could've been. The last musical from the UK to win was Billy Elliot in 2009.

[binau]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 6:35pm

I don't mind if Maybe Happy Ending wins Best Musical and Best Book, but even after the Maybe Happy Ending cast recording was released I do find for me that Operation Mincemeat feels a lot sharper/witty/melodic, it can be both very funny and very emotional, has a few different kinds of styles and just overall to me feels like a 'complete' musical and has that little bit of extra magic sprinkled on top.  So I kind of wish Operation Mincemeat would take score, so far. 

There are some haunting moments in the Maybe Happy Ending score....it makes me feel so devastated for example during "World Within My Room" when they have that haunting score underscore to change the tone when we find out they  have 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

stopped producing replacement parts for his helper bot, raising the tragic stakes of the show 

But I just find for me the score feels a little light musically, a lot of variations in bouncy pleasant but a little mechanical sounding melodies, some nice lyrics but rarely times where I think "wow that's clever" at best maybe 'that's a little cute'. Idk. 

 

 

stopped manufacturing replacement parts, essentially making it click into gear and raising the stakes that there is something a bit tragic about the story and events come 

Updated On: 3/21/25 at 06:35 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 6:47pm

I agree Mincemeat isn't the frontrunner, but Dead Outlaw seems more likely to me, over MHE (with Mincemeat coming in 3rd). It's also a home-grown product, it'll be newer/fresher in voters' minds, it's the artier option, it's already received rave reviews off-Broadway, the subject matter will likely feel more relevant/weightier, and it's more likely to tour than MHE (which will need to significantly alter the set). I'm certainly not discounting MHE, but don't think it's running away with it or that Dead Outlaw can be so easily omitted from the conversation.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 6:55pm

Matilda should have easily swept the Tonys that year.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 7:22pm

Dead Outlaw and MHE are now the front runners for best musical.

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 8:14pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some extra love for MHE being a Korean musical, and a desire by voters to reward that due to how much money lots of them have made from Korean productions of Broadway shows over the years. 
As well as the merits of MHE of course. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 1:54am

Mincemeat is as much a underdog story as MHE.

This is a show by unknowns that started in a 60 seat black box in the middle of England and made it all to Broadway with unknowns in the leads, a creative team all making Broadway debuts, and also is a story about defeating fascism which unfortunately is timely as ever in this country.

people counting it out because of two or three mixed reviews were never considering it to be in the running in the first place.

I could see it missing out on Best Musical but def in the mix for score, book, costumes, lighting, directing and certainly featured actor in a musical.

[bway1430]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 2:58am

BETTY22 said: "Dead Outlaw and MHE are now the front runners for best musical.

I don't think folks should underestimate BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB which received rather waem notices and is doing well at the box office.

It isn't a show that interests me, but it looks to be every bit as successful as MHE.

 

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 3:32am

Kad said: "CoffeeBreak said: "
It, and perhaps Dead Outlaw, have major momentum others may not like. It's not "America first" but it's a winner."

Maybe Happy Ending also has momentum and has an extremely compelling reversal-of-fortunes underdog narrative. Whether or not you personally care for the show, MHE is objectively competitive for Best Musical."

MHE was a cute musical rom-com that had momentum months ago and will still be nominated.   But its fall/winter narratives are in the rear view with audiences now heading to other newer great shows, whether they are to ones specific liking or not.   Mincemeat, who will probably outlast all the new musicals, and Buena Vista now have strong reviews too, full houses and great growing word of mouth.   Off-Broadway hit Dead Outlaw still to open and some possibilities with Smash, Boop & RWHC.  Death Becomes Her could sneak in a win too.

[binau]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 4:00am

Didn’t MHE just have one of if not its strongest week ever? I don’t see how you can claim it’s a show losing momentum the same way that is more obvious for a show such as Gypsy or Sunset. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:19am

Most shows did.  It's spring break.  Mincemeat had a better average ticket price while only being open a few weeks.

Updated On: 3/22/25 at 08:19 AM

[binau]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 8:43am

Mincemeat average ticket price = 116.37 last week

MHE average ticket price = 116.11

Really? I mean come on. And MHE is in a bigger theatre (where because there is more supply will mean higher pressure on ticket prices). 

I don't think you can try and spin a narrative that MHE 'had momentum months ago' (your words) based on this data or any of the recent trends. It seems clear to me that the box office is still holding strong. 

I get that you like Mincemeat (so do I) but you're trying to paint a picture that MHE is old news and slowly fading away for the 'new' shows. I don't think the data supports this. 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 9:14am

CoffeeBreak said: "Kad said: "CoffeeBreak said: "
It, and perhaps Dead Outlaw, have major momentum others may not like. It's not "America first" but it's a winner."

Maybe Happy Ending also has momentum and has an extremely compelling reversal-of-fortunes underdog narrative. Whether or not you personally care for the show, MHE is objectively competitive for Best Musical."

MHE was a cute musical rom-com that had momentum months agoandwill still be nominated. But its fall/winter narratives are in the rear viewwith audiences now heading to other newergreat shows, whether they are to ones specific liking or not. Mincemeat, who will probably outlast all the new musicals, and Buena Vista now have strong reviews too, full houses and great growing word of mouth. Off-Broadway hit Dead Outlaw still to open and some possibilities with Smash, Boop & RWHC. Death Becomes Her could sneak in a win too."

I really don’t understand your dismissiveness toward MHE, just on an objective factual level of how it is doing, how it’s turned around its early dire fortunes, its critical and popular praise, and the fact that people generally really like it. It’s not yesterday’s news and whether or not you think Mincemeat will outlast it is irrelevant (and Mincemeat is currently on a limited run strategy anyway, which allows it to cut its losses if need be). 
In another year without a clear front runner poised to sweep, I think it’s baffling to sell a successful show with a good awards narrative like MHE so short.