Oh, Mary! (play)

''Oh, Mary!'' is a comedic stage play written and originally performed by American comedian Cole Escola. The show opened on Broadway on July 11, 2024, at the Lyceum Theatre, transferring from its off-Broadway run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, earning critical acclaim and being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Synopsis

The show is a comedic spoof of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. The show is set in the days leading up to Lincoln's assassination, which occurred while he and Mary were watching ''Our American Cousin'' at Ford's Theatre. The show portrays Mary as someone who longs to live a life away from politics and be a cabaret performer, while Lincoln uses her as a beard to hide his sexuality, and is often away from home dealing with the issues of the Civil War, leaving her alone in the White House.

Production history

Off-Broadway (2024)

The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on February 8, 2024, with previews beginning January 26, 2024. The show had a planned closing date of March 24, 2024; however due to high ticket sales and critical acclaim, the play extended twice, first from March 24 until May 2, and then until May 12. The title is taken from a slang phrase used among gay men going back decades. The main poster and playbill design (yellow background with red and black lettering and the tagline "The Greatest Play of the Generation" over a circular photo of the lead performer in character) used for both the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of ''Oh, Mary!'' is a close reference to the promotional design for the original production of Lillian Hellman's 1939 play ''The Little Foxes''.

Broadway (2024–)

On April 24, 2024, it was announced the show would transfer to Broadway for a limited run at the Lyceum Theatre. The show is written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton and marked Escola's Broadway debut as a performer and playwright. Previews began on June 26, with a run originally scheduled from July 11 to September 15. However, on July 23, 2024, due to popular demand, it was announced the show would extend its run through November 10. On September 19, 2024, it was announced the show would extend through January 19, 2025. The show features original music by Daniel Kluger and arrangements by David Dabbon. Scenic design is by the design collective known as ''dots'' with costumes by Holly Pierson. In December 2024, the run of ''Oh, Mary!'' was extended a third time to June 28, 2025, and Betty Gilpin was cast as Mary, replacing Escola. Subsequently Phillip James Brannon replaced Conrad Ricamora as Mary's Husband and Chris Renfro replaced James Scully as Mary's Teacher. Tituss Burgess replaced Gilpin for a temporary engagement in March 2025. Escola rejoined the cast on April 8, 2025, as did Ricamora and Scully. Days after the 2025 Tony Nominations, ticket sales were extended to September 28, 2025 and Burgess was once again to replace Escola as Mary in a limited 6-week engagement to begin in June.

Original cast and characters

Notable replacements

Broadway (2024–)

* Mary Todd Lincoln: Betty Gilpin, Tituss Burgess
* Mary's Husband: Philip James Brannon
* Mary's Teacher: Chris Renfro

Critical reception

Joshua Barone of ''The New York Times'' described it as "silly, nasty, tasteless and, in the end, good theater." He described how the play stretches a "stupid joke" to its limits but still leaves audiences "gagging" with laughter.

Amelia Merrill of the ''New York Theatre Guide'' emphasized the campy, irreverent nature of ''Oh, Mary!'', calling it both absurd and heartwarming. She pointed out how Escola's reinterpretation of Mary Todd Lincoln, though not historically accurate, explored the First Lady's mental health struggles through comedy. Jesse Green of ''The New York Times'' echoed these sentiments, noting the play's deft combination of camp and discipline. He praised the production for finding a balance between chaotic comedy and choreographed precision. Green also called it "one of the best crafted and most exactingly directed Broadway comedies in years" despite Escola's own admission that it's "the stupidest play."

Howard Miller of ''Talkin' Broadway'' emphasized the show's success in balancing a "queer-infused raucous, farcical, campy" energy while maintaining emotional depth beneath its absurdity. Sara Holdren wrote for ''Vulture'' that "''Oh, Mary!'' is hilarious and, underneath the mayhem, both structurally rock solid and sneakily moving", while a ''Variety'' reviewer described the play as "a broad, wildly funny comedy" that was also irreverent. ''TheWrap'' wrote: "Escola has somehow managed to turn the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln into an inspired, rollicking comedy." Another critic, for ''Time Out New York'', gave ''Oh, Mary!'' a five-star rating, saying that the play "is dizzyingly, breathtakingly funny, the kind of funny that ambushes your body into uncontained laughter."

However not all reviews were positive, with critic Michael Sommers writing for ''New York Stage Review'' giving the play 2 out of 5 stars describing the script as "flimsy" adding it's more of "a ribald cartoon more hysterical than historical".

Awards and nominations

2024 Off-Broadway production

2024 Broadway production

See also

* '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois''
* ''The Last of Mrs. Lincoln''
* ''The Day Lincoln Was Shot''
* ''Lincoln''
* Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln

References

External links

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{{Abraham Lincoln, state=collapsed

2024 plays
American plays
Broadway plays
Comedy plays
Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln
Cultural depictions of first ladies of the United States
LGBTQ-related plays
Musical parodies
Plays set in Washington, D.C.
Satirical plays