Secret agents – Somebody’s got to do it, might as well be Agent Curt Mega.

Less than a year after his British partner died as the result of Mega’s inconsideracy, he is back and on the case of black market nuclear bomb sales. Too bad the Russians are on the case also – or at least one, Tatiana Slozhno.

It’s Cold War America in Tin Can Brothers’ new musical, Spies are Forever. Starring Curt Mega as (who else) Agent Curt Mega (when you’ve got a name like that you’re obviously already a spy), Mary Kate Wiles as Slozhno, plus other such popular musical and YouTube celebrities as Joey Richter, Joey Walker, Lauren Lopez, Brian Rosenthal, and Tessa Netting, this musical takes the spy genre to a new medium – the stage and YouTube.

I’ll be honest: I knew I would like this before it was even released near the end of June because it stars many of my favorites from the StarKid musicals. I did not expect how much I would love seeing the idea of a comedic spy story like Get Smart blend with the seriousness of James Bond, all on top of a more terrible musical representation of the Nazis than was seen in The Producers.

The mystery of Tin Can Brothers’ story is topped more by the fact that the entire cast accounts for 8 people, all of whom (except for Mega) play their own major part, as well as the many background characters. As each scene proceeds, we see actors appear in moments where we realize they are undercover, while in other scenes there are no defined names for these characters, making audiences wonder whether they are seeing casino workers, restaurant staff, politicians, or scientists – or if spies are everywhere. With actors in other shows this may seem difficult to follow, but not with this one. If you have seen any StarKid productions, you’ll recognize Joey Richter’s impenetrable ability to change costumes and characters without making it obvious. While easily recognizing the actor, the character change is immediately identified with no distraction. This proves especially useful nearer the end of the show.

Despite this, I was pulled out of the story several times. While set in the 1960’s, there were several references to “non-smoking” sections and lung cancer, both of which were not heavily discussed in public at that time. In addition, several moments with the Nazi party both making specific American references that seemed out of place for a tyrannical German, along with audience participation that immediately made me remember I was watching a stage show, and the backdrop being the same throughout. While these moments were unusual and hard to follow, the majority of Spies was spectacular and cannot be missed.

Spies are Forever can be found on YouTube, with scenes appearing each Tuesday. The show can also be purchased and watched in its entirety at http://www.spiesareforever.diamonds, as a DVD or download. If you choose to follow the show for free on YouTube, I highly recommend picking up the soundtrack on iTunes or at their website. By supporting this group, more shows like this can be made and put online for your enjoyment.

So keep your eyes on the prize and check out Spies Are Forever.