Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – No holds barred: Cole Escolar takes no prisoners as Mary Todd Lincoln in the instant classic OH, MARY!

• By drediman
• February 9, 2024
• No Comments

Last night, Cole Escola’s new play Oh, Mary! opened Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in a blaze of hilarity. The play — an instant classic — is in essence a deeply irreverent portrait of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Set during the waning days of the Civil War leading up to Lincoln’s fateful assassination at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC, the play turns its attention to the White House, where Mary is depicted as a volatile alcoholic — and repressed cabaret star (!) — on verge of a mental breakdown.

In short, the Escola’s raucous romp may not just only be the funniest play of the season, but many a season — as well as a triumph for the slowly dying breed of the theatrical comedy (particularly those with a particularly queer bent), once mainstays on the boards of New York. In construction, the play is a sturdy homage to old school melodrama. But it’s what Escola does within the structure that’s pure genius. By doubling down on no holds barred, often scandalously ribald humor — and occasionally breaking the period veneer to whip out some outrageously funny contemporary commentary — they show an uncanny instinct for relentlessly pushing the situational comedy to extremes (oh yes, Oh, Mary! often goes “there”). But aside from the rapid fire comedy, the theatrical craft is also there. Indeed, as lovingly directed by Sam Pinkleton, the storytelling is solid, complete with a few narrative surprises cleverly up its sleeves (no spoilers here!).

In the title role, Escola’s slicing comic timing and line readings are priceless. Both their outrageously funny, star-making performance and the play itself take no prisoners, leaving the convulsing audiences helplessly in stitches. As Lincoln, Conrad Ricamora (fresh from his memorable portrayal of another political figure of note in Here Lies Love) gives a coiled, rowdy performance that straddles both sexual repression and toxic masculinity. Other standouts include James Scully and Bianca Leigh in inspired supporting turns that more than more than hold up against the force of nature that is Escola (and Ricamora).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

OH, MARY!
Off-Broadway, Play
Lucille Lortel Theatre
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 24