We had a double in New York, seeing Operation Mincemeat one night, and Oh, Mary! the next, solely for the purpose of answering your questions: Is Operation Mincemeat appropriate for kids? Is Oh, Mary appropriate for kids? Read on.
Operation Mincemeat, a British show, is about a farfetched plot to divert Nazi troops from Sicily to Sardinia, so the Allies could invade and take it back. It’s a comedy and musical, and it’s shockingly a true story. I won’t get into many details, so as not to spoil it.
The show, which came to Broadway via the West End, stars the original British cast, some of whom wrote the play, music and lyrics. Only five characters play all the parts, sometimes playing multiple parts in the same scene. On that end, the staging was terrific, with quick character changes, sometimes just changing a hat and accent. In one scene, that must be exhausting to perform, there were multiple character changes all while moving furniture around and singing. I got tired watching them.
I enjoyed the play, though the beginning was a bit hard for me to follow. The British accents, combined with the fast pace, meant I was grasping about 50% of the words. It got better as time went on, but I still had to strain to comprehend. Not sure if it was also because I was in the 2nd to last row of the theater, way up in the mezzanine, though people around me were laughing, so they seemed to hear parts I missed. Maybe I’m just getting old.
Is Operation Mincemeat appropriate for kids?
I would consider bringing a teen to the show, but only a teen who might be interested in a British war farce. I say that because you have to really pay attention. The singing and dancing are fun, and it’s definitely a comedy. But I think most kids would rather see something else. I was sitting next to a teen – she was probably 17. She kept checking her texts during the show. Which was super annoying for me, but at least the phone was pretty dark, so it didn’t light up the room and she tried to be discreet (she was not in my group or I would have slapped that phone out of her hand).
Oh, Mary! starring Cole Escola as Mary, has been on my list for a while. The 80-minute show covers a short period in the life of Mary Todd Lincoln and President Abraham Lincoln. It shares behind-the-scenes views of both of them, that are not flattering, but do have some basis in rumor/history. That includes Mary’s disposition and mental health and questions about Honest Abe’s sexuality.
Contrary to Operation Mincemeat, I was in the fourth row of the orchestra – close enough to see Cole Escola practically spitting on the front row (I could see the spit, fortunately did not get hit with any of it). The show is hilarious – you must let go of any sense of decorum and also just buy into the ridiculousness of the story – which again, was based on a true story.
Is Oh, Mary appropriate for kids?
No, it’s just not. If you want to bring your teens and they are mature, go for it. Aside from some language that may be inappropriate for younger kids, there are discussions/portrayals of substance abuse, sexual acts and cheating. It’s a raunchy show not meant for young eyes and ears. But should you go? It is absolutely a worthwhile show to see.
