OPERATION MINCEMEAT Reviews- Page 5

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 10:38pm

Frivolity Revs Up on Broadway: ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and ‘Operation Mincemeat’

The silliness sticks more than the pathos in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

https://www.slantmagazine.com/theater/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-operation-mincemeat-review-sarah-snook/

"the show transcends its frivolity in a way that The Picture of Dorian Gray never does in a few affecting tonal heel-turns. As the long-serving secretary Hester, Jak Malone delivers a tender reflection on the pain of separation during wartime in the show’s best song, “Dear Bill.” Hester’s mentorship of a young secretary (Claire-Marie Hall) who’s frustrated that her gender will keep her out of the agency’s seats of power also comes to a head in the thoughtful duet “Useful.” Malone, more so than his castmates, tends to keep his physical humor subtle, relying on small gestures and quiet eyerolls to communicate both the barminess and humanity of his characters. His gentler presence is a balm in the midst of so much manic exuberance."

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 12:26am

what a strong season for new musical works. MHE was pristine, and we know Dead Outlaw is near perfect. But Mincemeat in many ways is most impressive-- the sheer creativity in 2.5 hours of nonstop lyrics, storytelling and superhuman performances. while the whole is not as strong as the sum of the parts (it lags here and there, and yes there is very British humor that doesnt perfectly translate) its quite a fun, intelligent and yes very moving evening.

i found myself comparing it to hamilton a whole bunch. in some ways unfavorably: the rapping in this is weaker, and the whole "let me sing a history lesson at you" is not as original ten years on. and the music in Hamilton is of course much much stronger, more diverse, more thrilling. but in some ways it compares quite favorably--whereas Lin putting himself in the show was fine, it was clear he was The Writer performing alongside considerably more talented vocalists and dancers etc. HERE you would never know that three of these guys are also the writers---Hodgson is particularly strong and I hope gets noticed come Tony time (as Supporting, given her lead competition). 

Jak Malone made me, and everyone around me, cry, out of nowhere, in a perfect 5 minutes of theater. but so did the finale, and there is truly an art to blending wit, silliness, history, some morality lessons, and moments of emotion all in one sweaty package. well done.

we spent alot of money for front mezz seats, but the last few rows of the rear mezz were not full. surprising on a saturday night. felt like a very subdued and very foreign (british) audience. 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 8:07am

I enjoyed this but missed a lot of the lyrics and I sat in Orch G9. I wouldn’t dream of trying to see this from the rear mezzanine. It is quite dense and I hope to revisit but not one of my favorites so far this season.  I do believe Natasha Hodgson is quite impressive and should earn a Tony nomination for best featured actress.

[SingingEachtoEach]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 1:06pm

I asked before but I think at a bad time during the thread:  what do people think the actual age for this is? The website says they recommend for ages 5 and up but that seems a bit young.  I have a very well behaved elementary kid (older than 5) who actually likes the soundtrack and I guess not all kids are the same but 5 seems quite young and I was very surprised when I read that on their site.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 1:08pm

I'm sure a kid would be entertained but to truly get something from this show I'd think they'd have to be at least 12.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 1:11pm

Those ages usually refer to questionable content - not understanding or enjoyment.

 

No, I wouldn't expect a 5 year old to be terribly engaged.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 1:29pm

SingingEachtoEach said: "I asked before but I think at a bad time during the thread: what do people think the actual age for this is?The website says they recommend for ages 5 and up but that seems a bit young. I have a very well behaved elementary kid (older than 5) who actually likes the soundtrack and I guess not all kids are the same but 5 seems quite young and I was very surprised when I read that on their site."

That just means they don't allow anyone younger than 5 in the theater. Such a mature subject matter requires one to be at least 12 or 13 to get it, appreciate it, and not disturb other patrons. Restless, squirming children asking" how much longer" loudly is as annoying as any phone or drunk person in the theater. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 1:35pm

SingingEachtoEach said: "I asked before but I think at a bad time during the thread: what do people think the actual age for this is?The website says they recommend for ages 5 and up but that seems a bit young. I have a very well behaved elementary kid (older than 5) who actually likes the soundtrack and I guess not all kids are the same but 5 seems quite young and I was very surprised when I read that on their site."

I agree with the others that 5 is too young, but since your kid is older than that, it may be fine, depending on how much younger. If they already like the soundtrack and you think they wouldn't disturb other audience members, it could be okay. They may not understand it all, but this doesn't strike me as a show with a lot of slow book scenes. Everything's moving very quickly betwen the songs and there's a lot of action and energy. A mature 10 could be fine.

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 6:42pm

I started listening to the cast recording a couple of weeks ago and loved it. partly as very familiar with the story but also think its very clever.

I had seen a performance of Dear Bill online at a Rememberance Day concert in the UK and teared up.

I really hope this makes its way to Sydney down the track,  it would do well here I think.

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 8:19pm

MemorableUserName said: "SingingEachtoEach said: "I asked before but I think at a bad time during the thread: what do people think the actual age for this is?The website says they recommend for ages 5 and up but that seems a bit young. I have a very well behaved elementary kid (older than 5) who actually likes the soundtrack and I guess not all kids are the same but 5 seems quite young and I was very surprised when I read that on their site."

I agree with the others that 5 is too young, but since your kid is older than that, it may be fine, depending on how much younger. If they already like the soundtrack and you think they wouldn't disturb other audience members, it could be okay. They may not understand it all, but this doesn't strike me as a show with a lot of slow book scenes. Everything's moving very quickly betwen the songs and there's a lot of action and energy. A mature 10 could be fine."

******CAST RECORDING******

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 7:26pm

Jak Malone’s Guide to Singing the Best New Song on Broadway

https://www.vulture.com/article/jak-malone-operation-mincemeat-dear-bill.html

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 4/16/25 at 11:11pm

I saw the show last night and really enjoyed it. I think it helps that I grew up in a British household and spent my summers in England so I understand and enjoy British humour. The cast are fantastic and put their all into the show. I think it would be a different show without the original cast. I sat up in the rear mezz in row D and it was a great seat for the price. Didn’t miss anything. Would definitely recommend this show to those who like history, and a good laugh while seeing an original show (based on a little known true story). The whole cast also signed at the stage door and seemed genuinely touched by the accolades they were receiving. A great start to my week of theatre. 

[Miss10036]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 12:01am

I had the best time at this and immediately wanted to revisit it and talk it up to people I know.  I get that its brand of humor isn't for everyone and respect that.  Sure worked on me, though.

Mincemeat reminded me why history was my favorite subject when I was a student because it scratched that same, familiar itch where you learn a weird, funny historical fact or story and joke about it for the rest of the semester, and it took that to the nth degree.  Like, if my high school self could hypothetically do a group history project for extra credit, got handed a multi-million dollar budget, and happened to be incredibly talented, I'd want to make something like this musical and would have a blast.  And I did have a blast, watching this show!  While it started off a bit static for me and took a few numbers to hit its stride, once it was off to the races I lived for its chaotic energy with a dash of heart.  The pacing and comic timing were great and I didn't expect some of the music to be so catchy, especially the act one finale.  And what a crackerjack cast. All the praise for Jak Malone and "Dear Bill" is earned and he deserves a cockney "yay," and I was buying everything Natasha Hodgson was selling with her bro-y swagger.  I keep rewinding and relistening to the beginning of "The Pitch" on the cast recording because her deliveries just get me every time, without fail.  It makes sense that she's eligible for leading, but dang, I wish she was competing in the featured category this year.  I do wonder if this would've worked as well for me had the cast not been so strong, because so much of what had me rolling were their deliveries, but I can't know for sure. Either way, I'm grateful that we have these five being silly onstage as part of such a strong season. We're so lucky.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 7:20am

Also saw this yesterday and agree with the praise. I didn’t 100% love some of the Hamilton-esque theatrical raps, but many of the songs were great. It was also just a ton of fun! 

[rburton66]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 6:21pm

Mincemeh. Jak Malone’s “Dear Bill” is the clear highlight. I think your mileage will vary based on how much you enjoy what David Cumming is doing. His topknot was a bad omen, but I’m really not a fan of that Rowan Atkinson/Mr. Bean style of comedy “acting,” so I just grew more and more exasperated with him.

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 7:07pm

Saw this last night. It’s cleverly staged and Dear Bill is truly moving. It was also one of the few songs where I was able to hear the lyrics. And I wasn’t the only one. As soon as intermission started, the woman in front of me told her companion that she had no idea what was going on because she couldn’t understand any of the lyrics. 

And unless it’s like Springtime for Hitler, dancing Nazis don’t work. The tone was just off.during those scenes and in its attitude toward Montagu. Are we supposed to think an arrogant classist who jeopardizes the entire military action is funny?  

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 9:58pm

[bear88]

Posted: 4/26/25 at 4:29am

It’s been a couple of weeks since my New York City trip, and I still can’t get over ‘Dear Bill’ and Jak Malone.

I knew it was an acclaimed, change-of-pace ballad in the otherwise comic show that had received a lot of praise and an Olivier Award for Malone. I just wasn’t prepared for how good it turned out to be.

In the midst of a fast-moving, fast-talking, sometimes-hard-to-understand-every-word musical comedy, we get a one-act play that works only if everyone understands every syllable of every word. Because every pause matters. Every changed word choice or name matters. The shift in tone, dipping into sarcasm and self-pity, matters. The partial recovery matters.

What’s especially stunning is, as others have noted, it comes out of nowhere. The song is preceded by a long, comic song featuring lots of characters (including Malone in a very different role) and a fair amount of chaos. The song elevates the show, setting the stage for some of the sentiment that occasionally follows along with the laughs. 

But just on its own, ‘Dear Bill’ is a stunning achievement. A young man, portraying a self-controlled older woman with total sincerity, stands on stage and breaks your heart in six minutes.

[sppunk]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 9:32pm

This show is brilliant. Finally got to see it today and left smiling ear to ear. Witty, smart, beautifully written and with heart. A rare feat. 

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 9:48pm

I absolutely loved this musical! It’s so exciting to see creators take bold risks like this—especially when the payoff is so rewarding. Just for Dear Bill alone, they deserve the Tony for Best Score. While I haven’t made it to every new musical this season (I’m working on it!), this one would definitely get my vote for Best Musical.

On a different note, I caught a matinee and was honestly shocked by the audience's behavior. Multiple phones went off, people were singing along, chatting loudly, and even getting up to leave during the bows and the Broadway Cares speech. It was really disappointing. Millennials and Gen Z often have a bad name, but in this case, it was the older crowd causing the disruptions and it was incredibly frustrating.

[Markie27]

Posted: 4/27/25 at 11:20pm

bear88 said: "It’s been a couple of weeks since my New York City trip, and I still can’t get over ‘Dear Bill’ and Jak Malone.

I knew it was an acclaimed, change-of-pace ballad in the otherwise comic show that had received a lot of praise and an Olivier Award for Malone. I just wasn’t prepared for how good it turned out to be.

In the midst of a fast-moving, fast-talking, sometimes-hard-to-understand-every-word musical comedy, we get aone-act play that works only if everyone understands every syllable of every word. Because every pause matters. Every changed word choice or name matters. The shift in tone, dipping into sarcasm and self-pity, matters. The partial recovery matters.

What’s especially stunning is, as others have noted, it comes out of nowhere. The song is preceded by a long, comic song featuring lots of characters (including Malone in a very different role) and a fair amount of chaos. The song elevates the show, setting the stage for some of the sentiment that occasionally follows along with the laughs.

But just on its own, ‘Dear Bill’ is a stunning achievement. A young man, portraying a self-controlled older woman with total sincerity, stands on stage and breaks your heart in six minutes."

I was already excited about this show to transfer to Broadway hearing many many great things across the pond.  I didn’t want to know anything about the story or how it was conceived as I want to go in blind.  All I know is from the press release about the show being like Monty Python and 39 Steps with a little bit of Six and Hamilton mixed in and I was also made aware of all the awards and accolades it received in London.  
 

But then I came across this TikTok add featuring Jak Malone singing Dear Bill in the studio.  I couldn’t help myself so I watched it.  God it was so heart breaking!  I was sobbing in the subway as I was going to work at that time.  I’ve never had a song hit me so hard without having watched the show yet.  I even thought it was a gay song as I just saw a bearded Jak Malone singing solo in a sound stage studio about a man he lost in the war!

So after that I watched the bootleg recording of a West end production and I bawled yet again.  I made sure to get front row seats house left right there and then to make sure that I would be right in front of Hester when she sings this song!  The experience was so sublime!  One of the best theater going experience in my life! (and I have been watching theater for three decades now!)  That Tony belongs to  Jak Malone.   Dear Bill is undoubtedly the best song of the season (arguably in my opinion the best song from a new musical since 2015 - all the way for the past ten years since She Used to Be Mine from Waitress and It’s Quiet Uptown from Hamilton).  

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 7:04pm

Jessi Kirtley is making her Broadway debut tonight, on for Jean + others!

Very curious to hear if the understudies, who are all American, use British accents or not.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 07:04 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 9:06pm

I can't imagine they won't use accents.  

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 11:03pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Jessi Kirtley is making her Broadway debut tonight, on for Jean + others!

Very curious to hear if the understudies, who are all American, use British accents or not."

I was there tonight, Jessi was absolutely excellent. She was given flowers at curtain call. I would never have known she hadn’t done this a million times, her performance was spot on. 
 

They also threw in an ad lib tonight - after the line about “making a terrible movie” (or something like that - don’t remember the exact wording) they said “or a TONY NOMINATED MUSICAL!” and the house went absolutely nuts! It was such a fun night. I adored the show. 
 

And yes, Jessi used an accent. 

[RussT2]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 8:28am

Saw Operation: Mincemeat on 5/3 at the evening performance. I knew what the basic plot was, but I stayed away from checking any of the music or reviews because I wanted to experience it fresh. Well! Until Saturday my favorite musical this year was Maybe Happy Ending, and I still love that show but Operation: Mincemeat is my new fave. I LOVED this show! Not only are the songs great, but the script and the cast are FABULOUS! The 5 actors need to literally wear so many hats, and play so many roles that they are constantly on stage and off making quick changes yet their timing is impeccable. Since they did this show in the UK for a few years they obviously know their roles perfectly. This is what iold fashioned Vaudeville must have been like. I cannot say enough about this show. I'm going to have to see it again soon. Jak Malone deserves that Tony nom. I hope he wins.