Review: OH, MARY! at San Diego Civic Theatre

The less you know about the Tony Award-winning comedy Oh, Mary! going in, the better.

Tony Award-winning playwright Cole Escola’s retelling of Mary Todd Lincoln’s life has less in common with a traditional historical account and more with Gwyneth Paltrow’s rendition of the first lady in Fox’s Glee. Certain historical facts remain unavoidable, but everything in between belongs to Escola’s raunchy, fantastical imagination, brought to life under the direction of Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton.

In just 80 minutes, Alaska Thunderf***, the drag performer who rose to fame on RuPaul’s Drag Race and plays Mary in the first national tour, puts the character’s lack of niceness on full display. She is unapologetic about her shortcomings, and Alaska’s comedic timing, precision and bouncy ringlets make her a delight to watch from the moment Mary rummages through her husband’s cabinet in search of a bottle of booze she swears she hid somewhere.

Mary’s Husband, played by John-Andrew Morrison, is mystified and exhausted by his wife’s antics. Already burdened by the responsibilities of his office as the country fights the Civil War, he must also contend with a woman whose biggest dream is to escape the judgmental eyes of polite society. She couldn’t care less about her husband’s reputation—or even his job—constantly asking, “What war?”

Mary’s indifference to everyone else’s problems is part of what makes her so funny. Her interactions with Mary’s Chaperone, played by Pooya Mohseni, and Mary’s Husband’s Assistant, played by Michael Lepore, give her more opportunities to make every situation about herself. She plays the victim with impressive ease, making her narcissism hilarious even as it reveals something more complicated beneath the surface: a deeply lonely woman trapped in a role she never wanted, with all the expectations that come with being a first lady. She wants the freedom to be a mess, yet few positions demand more propriety.

When Mary meets Mary’s Teacher, played by Wesley Taylor, her theatrical ambitions come back to life. The encounter gives her room to start dreaming again. And beneath the outrageous behavior and constant demands for attention, Alaska lets glimpses of vulnerability slip through. Her behavior might be extreme, but her desire to be seen and taken seriously feels familiar.

Together, Morrison, Mohseni, Lepore and Taylor complement Alaska’s performance, adding to the escalating absurdity and delivering more surprises that will keep you laughing and saying, “Oh, Mary!”

The play’s queer camp sensibility adds another layer to Mary’s struggle for freedom. Oh, Mary! pokes fun at the expectations placed on women and the role of first lady, turning femininity into a performance. Of course, there’s a fine line between making fun of those expectations and making a complicated woman’s drunkenness and hysteria the running joke. The joke is partly at Mary’s expense, but it’s also at the expense of a society that expects women to be composed and accommodating. Having Mary played by performers of different gender identities continues to invite us to question gender, roles and expectations. J. Harrison Ghee, who is set to take over the role from Alaska in January 2027, will bring another perspective to the character.

The comedy in this Broadway hit goes well beyond innuendo, landing in unapologetically raunchy and vulgar territory. It won't be for everyone, but it doesn't try to be. Alaska’s Mary is glitzy, unpredictable and laugh-out-loud funny, but she is also more relatable—and more perceptive—than she initially lets on. You leave rooting for her independence, no matter how she chooses to get there.

---

Reader Reviews

To post a comment, you must register and login.