“Helsinki!”
It seems diversion, deception and misdirection are the mainstay of world politics and a swift scroll through todays newsfeeds uncovers a strew of devices and ploys employed by the most powerful people (mostly men) in the world to distract the same world from uncovering their doings. I think you know who I mean without naming names. So, it’ll come as no surprise people (mostly men) throughout history have been doing the same and in tonight’s case we’re looking at the British deception operation in World War Two intended to disguise the 1943 invasion of Italy. I’m not sure how you disguise an invasion. It surely must be very noisy. Apparently, it involves the body of tramp dressed as a royal marine, loaded with fake ID, fake info, fake uniform and, yes, fake news.
This version of the story (not to be confused with “Trout Memo”, the book of 1939 or “Operation Mincemeat” the film of 2021, both of which covered the story in detail) is from writers and composers David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts. And they’ve already landed two Olivier awards and a Tony. Not a bad resume to bring to Wolverhampton. But what will we make of it all?
A staggering, glorious rumbustious romp, that’s what. It’s a show luminescent with vaudevillian verve, music hall mayhem and a sincere truth right at its heart. It’s unbelievable we have just witnessed a mere five actors take on not only a litany of mad, bad characters but a vast portfolio of Coward-esque lyrics each riddled with eternal, infernal internal rhymes which, in the hands of this vastly talented quintet, flip trippingly off the tongue with every verse, word and innuendo landing with utmost precision.
Christian Andrews, Charlotte Hanna-Williams, Sean Casey, Jamie-Rose Monk and Holly Sumpton beguiles us with a dexterous montage of movement and madness either verbal or visual or both and deliver a fully rounded theatrical experience like no other – sumptuous in detail, invention and joy. Rarely do we see such a replete, considered and rendered piece of theatre whose design and intent far outweigh its asking price. Tonight, we did. Robert Hastie’s direction was an effusion of bright, clever invention with surprises at every turn creating an evening of total conviction and commitment giving us an event to savour, consider and relish way past the last lyrics and tune.
Some of the best nights of my life ever have been in a theatre. This was one of them. I didn’t want it to end.
Reviewer: Peter Kinnock
Reviewed: 17th March 2026
North West End UK Rating: