I’ve always been a fan of an off-Broadway show making a Broadway transfer; New York is filled with so many incredible productions and it’s so satisfying to see when some of them get the chance to shine in front of a larger audience, especially when the magic of the show isn’t lost in a larger house. I’m a big fan of Fat Ham, Stereophonic, and several other of their peers, but I haven’t experienced a show quite like Oh, Mary! before.
For those unfamiliar, Oh, Mary! is a new dark comedy written by Cole Escola, who is best known by many for their television and cabaret performances. The place examines a Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, but almost none of the play actually happened. Escola portrays Mary as a raging, borderline feral, alcoholic who misses the stage in her seemingly loveless marriage. In several T.V. and internet interviews, Escola shares that they wrote the play for their “drunk gay friends” and actually “did less than no research” in the development process. If you haven’t seen the interviews where Escola comes in full costume or brings the “bratty curls” wig for Jimmy Fallon to try on, you’re truly missing out. As mentioned in the interview circuit for the show, the play had incredible hype and there’s always a bit of concern that some of the reviews may be overinflated. I had seen all the interviews and was definitely intrigued by how out-of-the-box the entire concept was, and was very thankful to be invited as a plus one to the invited dress rehearsal. Long story short, I loved it so much I went a second time with my family friends who were in town and only had the time to see one Broadway show (yes, I recommended it as the show to see).
In addition to writing the show, Cole Escola stars as Mary Todd Lincoln, with Conrad Ricamora joining as Abraham Lincoln, Bianca Leigh as Louise Mary’s Chaperone, Tony Macht as Abe’s Assistant, and James Scully as Mary’s Teacher. The production wastes no time in world-building; the experience starts as you’re entering the theatre. Right by the front doors to the Lyceum, you’ll find a bust of Cole Escola as Mary Todd Lincoln, as well as a painted portrait of Escola in a blue hoop skirt dress. As you’re traveling through the stairwells, you can find photos and quotes from Escola’s starring runs in several fictional productions of real shows. In case the stairwells are busy and you don’t get the opportunity to stop, there are also framed photos conveniently located in most, if not all, of the bathroom stalls. The pre-show playlist is comprised of modern remixes of several musical theatre classics, including a very long mix from Annie, and right as the playlist fades out and the lights dim, you’re greeted by a welcome message from Escola that continues to set the tone for the alternate reality you’re about to enter.
Oh, Mary! certainly delivers as a wickedly funny dark comedy and, if anything, doesn’t provide enough warning for how oh my god some of the segments become. Without spoiling too much, there are about four moments in particular where the entire audience completely erupted into laughter with a few jaws left down for the moments that followed. The laughs are consistent throughout with a delicate balance of physical and verbal comedy, but it is more than merely a twisted take on American history. We, as an audience, get to witness an exploration of hopes and dreams, albeit a deeply unserious glance at that. More than one of Mary’s monologues feels very much like a caricature of a Disney princess movie from the 90s, but it’s quickly balanced by the more adult references told through Lincoln and Mary’s Teacher (who does indeed have a name in the show). On a deeper level, I believe Oh, Mary! challenges us to reexamine our preconceived notions of history, more than I think the production team originally anticipated. The plot is unserious and at times nearly completely unbelievable, and most of us would assume that it’s completely farcical in nature. Most of us don’t know much about Mary Todd Lincoln, but even the parts we do know about history are told with a completely new narrative and perspective. Somehow, between the recent news cycle and the announcement of a new documentary releasing this fall about Abraham Lincoln, I can’t help but wonder where the parody ends and reality begins. Perhaps we’ve limited how we look at our history. Perhaps this is the sign of high art – an important message told through a belly-hurting laugh. Perhaps it’s just me being a theater kid and reading too much into a good time.
As for my family friends, who have seen very little Broadway might I add, they loved Oh, Mary! and I can affirm that their jaws were physically on the floor for no less than half the show. If my memory serves me correctly, one of them explicitly said “Mary Todd Lincoln is my new idol” as they were leaving the theatre. The run is very limited and nearly sold out, but if you have the opportunity to snag some tickets, especially an oddball lottery or rush seat, it is absolutely worth your time. If tickets aren’t in the card for you, you’ll still be able to appreciate samples of the humor available in the press coverage on YouTube and social media.
Have a terrific day!
