Shriekingly funny, Oh, Mary! sees prodigiously gifted comic writer and actor Cole Escola at the giddy height of their delectable powers.
Having transferred from off-Broadway, Oh, Mary! has swiftly become Broadway’s hottest ticket, a guaranteed great time featuring almost non-stop outrageous laughs.
The camp-o-rama vibe starts with the pre-show music, a divalicious collection of disco covers of Broadway tunes from the likes of Barbra, Patti, and Ethel. Even before entering the theatre, if you happen to be a person who ignores historic portraits in theatre foyers, be sure to inspect and read the captions of the infamous collection currently housed in the Lyceum.
Playwright Escola stars as Mary Todd Lincoln, raging alcoholic and self-deluded cabaret artist known for her short legs and long medleys. Sporting Victorian black hooped gown and coiffure of tight ringlet curls, monstrous Mary terrorises the Lincoln home as she seeks to distract herself from drink and return to her beloved stage.
Director Sam Pinkleton keeps energy sky high, crafting a combination somewhere between farce and melodrama. Watching the one-act 80-minute play is akin to watching a Saturday Night Live sketch on steroids. Delightfully devoid of subtlety, the action rockets along on the sheer strength of Escola’s wickedly witty script and the uniform exuberance of the devilish performances.
Far more than a comic sketch, the daffy story of the Oh, Mary! follows its own internal logic and builds to a dizzy climax that potentially sees history rewritten. All this, plus a fantabulous finale where Mary struts her stuff on the cabaret stage singing a slew of much-loved hits, such as “Copacabana” and “I’m A Little Teapot.”
The tight ensemble of characters includes Mary’s Husband (widely known to many as President Abraham Lincoln), Mary’s Chaperone (the beleaguered Louise), and Mary’s Teacher (whose name will not be spoiled here). There is also Mary’s Husband’s Assistant, a handsome young Union soldier (Tony Macht) who is good for releasing the President’s tension.
A brilliant scene partner for Escola, Conrad Ricamora deliberately overacts as Lincoln and yet still plays the comedy seriously.
Dressed like a pretty-in-pastels Anna Leonowens, Bianca Leigh leaves the audience wanting more, delivering deliciously droll reactions as dear Louise.
Looking every bit like a runaway Fiyero, James Scully cuts a magnetic presence as Mary’s Teacher, bolstered by the lovely plummy tones of his speaking voice.
A must-see Broadway comedy experience, it will be interesting to see if Oh, Mary! has an equally successful life beyond this fantabulous original cast and production in New York.
Oh, Mary! plays at Lyceum Theatre, New York until 19 January 2025. For tickets, click here.
Photos: Emilio Madird