The Comedy About Spies ★★★★★ Noël Coward Theatre | Until September 5, 2025


At the height of the Cold War, there was no business like the spy business, and this thoroughly delightful comedy is a brilliant send-up of our enduring fascination with James Bond and his counterparts. The plot, such as it is, revolves around trying to thwart a double agent who is intending to deliver plans for a secret doomsday weapon to the Soviets. But, there's really not much need to worry about that. This spoof about spooks is a wonderfully wacky farce with agents from the CIA, the KGB and MI6 all running around a hotel where an earnest young baker is planning a proposal to his girlfriend and a hapless actor is preparing to audition for the part that Sean Connery made his own. The silliness is non-stop, and the gags come thick and fast. The puns are totally outrageous, and the cast's physical comedy is superlative. While all of the performances were outstanding, our particular favourites were Chris Leask as the back-story obsessed Sergei Ivanov, and Henry Shields as the timid suitor, Bernard Wright, who finds himself entangled in espionage. And at one point, David Hearn as the CIA operative, Lance Buchanan, delivers a tongue-twister of a soliloquy that deservedly merits a spontaneous outburst of applause. Deborah Andrews' costumes are humorously spot on, and David Farley's sets are simply genius. The setting of the four hotel rooms provides perfectly appointed farce context, and the scene in the lift is quite amazing. Director Matt DiCarlo paces this madness impeccably, immersing the audience in a world of inanity and never letting things pause to a point where we might question this whirlwind of nonsense. Just when one might have wondered if the Mischief franchise were running out of steam, it comes up with a terrific show like this one. Kudos to writers Henry Lewis and Henry Shields. For a night of pure entertainment in the theatre, look no further than The Comedy About Spies.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Mark Senior

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 85-88 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4AU, UK

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