Everything You Need to Know About Oh, Mary!: Story, Cast, Broadway Reviews & London Performances
Posted on
## **What Is *Oh, Mary!* About?**
Broadway’s smash-hit comedy *Oh, Mary!* is a dark, outrageous new play from writer-performer **Cole Escola**. Set in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, it transforms the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln into a tragicomic figure riddled with heavy drinking, thwarted ambitions and a desperate yearning for the stage. This bold one-act piece doesn’t aim for historical accuracy – it gleefully tears up the rulebook to deliver 80 minutes of chaotic, laugh-out-loud theatre.
## **Who will play the role of Mary in London?**
**Mason Alexander Park** is set to portray Mary in the upcoming production of *Oh, Mary!* in London. In London's West End, Park has delivered standout performances, including their portrayal of the Emcee in *Cabaret* at the Playhouse Theatre, their role as Ariel in *The Tempest* alongside Sigourney Weaver at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and their recent performance as Margaret in *Much Ado About Nothing* with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
## **Who originated the role on Broadway?**
American comedian, writer, and actor **Cole Escola** made their Broadway debut in 2024, originating the role in *Oh, Mary!* as both playwright and star. Their “mesmerising” and “deliriously funny” performance earned them the 2025 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.
## **Awards and Achievements**
*Oh, Mary!* was one of Broadway’s biggest critical and commercial successes of 2024. It won multiple Tony Awards, including Best Leading Actor for **Escola** and Best Direction for **Sam Pinkleton**. It also broke box office records at America’s Lyceum Theatre, becoming the first show in the venue’s history to gross over $1 million in a single week. The play was further recognised as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
## **Critical Reception**
The reaction has been near-rapturous.
*
**The New York Times** hailed it as “one of the best comedies in years”.
*
**The Guardian** praised Escola’s “gloriously unhinged” performance.
*
**Variety** called it “the funniest, gayest, campiest play Broadway has seen in years”.
Audiences describe the play as a breathless, side-splitting experience, with laughter erupting throughout its brisk 80-minute running time.
## **Performance Timeline: From Broadway to London**
The play premiered off-Broadway in early 2024 before transferring to Broadway that summer, where it quickly became a sell-out success. The West End transfer brings *Oh, Mary!* to London’s Trafalgar Theatre from Wednesday 3 December 2025 to Saturday 25 April 2026.
## **Why *Oh, Mary!* Stands Out**
*Oh, Mary!* feels daringly different. By turning a First Lady of American history into a tragicomic cabaret star, it mixes biting satire, camp humour and gleeful theatricality. The result is a comedy that is as shocking as it is side-splitting, already hailed as a modern classic.
## **Practical Information**
*
**Running time**: Approximately 80 minutes with no interval.
*
**Effects**: The production uses water-based haze and includes a single gunshot.
*
**Age guidance**: Suitable for ages 14+.
## **Key FAQs**
**When is *Oh, Mary!* playing in London?**
From 3 December 2025 until 25 April 2026 at the [Trafalgar Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/trafalgar-theatre-london).
**Who plays Mary Todd Lincoln?**
Mason Alexander Park.
**How long is the show?**
It runs for 80 minutes with no interval.
**Is *Oh, Mary!* historically accurate?**
No – it’s a camp, comic reimagining rather than a faithful biography.
**Is *Oh, Mary!* A play or a musical?**
It’s a comedic play.
**Where can I get tickets?**
Tickets for the London run are available to book today.
Playing in London from 3 December 2025 until 25 April 2026, book your tickets to [*Oh, Mary!*](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/oh-mary-tickets) today.
*Image: Cole Escola in “Oh, Mary!,” Broadway, 2024 (Credit: Emilio Madrid)*