Oh Mary! London West End Welcomes Wild Mary Todd Lincoln Comedy
“Oh Mary!” is a “gloriously deranged” 80-minute, one-act comic play offering an irreverent and rap-heavy alternative history of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln. Conceived by comedian and actor Cole Escola, who also originated the lead role, the play reimagines Mary as a frustrated alcoholic with a secret desire to become a cabaret star. Her ambition is initially thwarted by her husband’s presidential duties, but after his untimely demise, she discovers new opportunities to pursue her long-held dreams.
The show has already made a significant impact on Broadway, opening in summer 2024 and earning praise from Time Out New York as “dizzyingly, breathtakingly funny” and capable of ambushing audiences into “uncontained laughter.” Its move to London’s West End, with a run from December 2025 to April 2026 at the Trafalgar Theatre, draws comparisons to the unexpected success of “Hamilton,” another US political history play that has thrived on the West End.
However, the London production presents both benefits and potential risks. On the positive side, tickets are more accessibly priced, starting at £31, a stark contrast to Broadway’s $102-$522 range. The lead role will be taken by American actor Mason Alexander Park, as Cole Escola will not reprise it. A key challenge for the London run is whether its US-centric humor will resonate as strongly with a British audience. Furthermore, the article poses a question about audience fatigue for fictional White House farces, given the current “24/7 fever dream” of real-world American politics. Despite these considerations, “Oh Mary!” aims to bring its unique brand of wild comedy to a new international stage.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/on-stage/oh-mary-play-west-end)
