Oh, Mary!

by Cole Escola

2025 Tony Award® Nominee for Best Play.
Finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Now in performances on Broadway.

THE STORY: Mary Todd Lincoln is tired of Washington, DC. The nation's capital is so boring; she would much rather be onstage, where she belongs, starring in a cabaret. And if she can't do that, she might as well drink. Or push her chaperone down the stairs. Or drink. The entire White House is fed up with Mary's antics, most of all her bore of a husband, who can't focus on anything except his silly Civil War. To get her out of his hair, Abe hires a handsome, up-and-coming actor to give Mary acting lessons, hoping to keep her busy and out of trouble, but the distraction ends up working a little too well. A riotous, campy, outrageous comedy that dares to ask: What won't Mary Todd Lincoln do to be a star?

Genres: Plays, Historical Fiction, Theatre, LGBT, Drama, Fiction, Queer

49 pages, Paperback

Published April 18, 2025

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theatre is just fewer feathers and flatter shoes.
Oh, Mary! ~~~ Cole Escola



Some initial thoughts on Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary!: Escola is obviously a fan of burlesque and vaudeville. Oh, Mary! plays like an extended sketch ~~ a CAMPTASTIC sketch. He’s clearly a fan of Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball and Lou Costello. As funny as this script is on paper, I can envision that it must be even funnier in person due to Escola’s comically manic performance and brilliant comic timing.

As for my opinion: Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! is the funniest script I’ve read in 20 years. It is a consistently hilarious script. Not an easy feat considering Mary Todd Lincoln is not exactly the most comical of characters.



The heart of Oh, Mary! is Mary Todd Lincoln ~~ an alcoholic, bitterly unhappy, First Lady who aspires to return to the world of cabaret ~~ where she may or may not have been a star. In Mary’s world, we’re never quite certain what the truth is. Don’t look for meaning or accuracy here ~~ Oh, Mary! is meant to entertain, and entertain it does. I was laughing out loud at the absurdity of the situations ~~ to share them here with you would only spoil the joy of reading Oh, Mary!



Writing Oh, Mary! as a one act and holding the running time to under 85 minutes was a genius move on Escola’s part. There is no filler here ~~ Oh, Mary! is quickly controlled with nary a false move or unnecessary word in the script. Oh, Mary! plays at a blistering pace.



What Cole Escola accomplishes here is a master class in comedic writing. They deliver a nonstop stream of laughs.

There is an energy and immediacy that leaps off the page. The energy of live theater can only magnify this brilliance. Cole Escola deserves every accolade they have received for Oh, Mary!.

[Doug]

I'm not going to rate this because even though it's been unanimously acclaimed by everyone who has seen it - I didn't find the SCRIPT to be all that amusing or clever (I think I chuckled 3 X). I'm sure it plays much, MUCH better, so it's hard to be judgmental without having seen it performed - but it kind of reminded me of a lesser Carol Burnett skit.

[Jaycie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I’d like to express my disappointment in the Mid-Continent Public Library for denying my request to buy this script three times.

Secondly, I’d like to express my thanks to the Mid-Continent Public Library for coordinating an interlibrary loan with a library in Texas in lieu of buying this script.

I had the pleasure of seeing Oh, Mary! on Broadway a couple months ago and I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards. The hype around the show was so crazy I had to see it - and while I laughed a ton (sometimes out of pure shock 😅), I couldn’t help thinking it was probably 1000x funnier when Cole Escola was in the role. So fun to be able to read the script and relive that wildly chaotic night on Broadway.

[gurvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope that this show gets a tour and that Cole Escola plays Mary because after reading this, all I can think is "I NEED to see this on stage." It is so unique, so specific, so lean and tailored to Cole's personality, I can only IMAGINE how electric it is on stage. Having only read it, I know I'm truly missing out, but at least I can feel like I'm a part of it. Damn you, New York City. Always so far away from my house. Digressing - Plays are meant to be seen! Still, a major work. I, too, don't understand Miranda's obsession with logs in The Tempest 🤷‍♂️. I cannot wait to read (or hopefully have a chance to see) whatever Cole has in store for us next!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very clear that reading a script instead of watching a play is like reading a recipe instead of tasting the food, especially in the case of Oh Mary, which is certainly funny and goofy on the page but leaves more of an impression along the lines of "wow, I really got to see this on stage." It's fun as hell, though, all the way through and worth a read if you, like me, will probably never get the chance to see it because shit is too expensive anymore.

[Rachel Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this a 50 page script? yes but will I count it towards my goal? also yes

I wish I could experience seeing this again for the first time because the plot twists are just TOO good as surprises and so shocking and funny it just will never hit the same if I see it again. However, I would still see it again because it was sooooo stupid funny.

[Madelyn (Vaughn) Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

by far the funniest play I’ve seen, I did a little read of the script to commit some details to memory

[Kristi Hovington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing or gasping for much of the show, so it’s wonderful to read the text and see what I missed. Cole Escola forever.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Fantastic. So much fun. There is so much packed into this tight play. Oh, Mary, indeed!

[Emma Gulitti]

Leaving unrated because it’s impossible to go just off the script alone, but I can see why Mary Todd was a *perfect* role for Jinkx Monsoon.

A touring production was recently announced and I’m crossing my fingers the show will come to Texas!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up because I would eat this UP live
so so so goofy with a very specific brand of humor that really shows off all that theatre can be, best script I've read in a while, just fab

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The South of WHAT?!

[julz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohmygod im so mad i couldnt see this live.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riotous, bawdy, hyper piece, with many OMG moments, and surprisingly moving. Can't really discuss it, without giving its secrets away and trust me those secrets are moments that will make the reader gasp (at least I did). This piece is so much more than it first seems to be. Brilliant read!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An bawdy comedy that is grounded in reality. It is easy to see why this is all the rage.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection when performed live, but just as delightful to read.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

seen it on broadway twice, finally read the actual play itself. pure comedic brilliance.

“THE SOUTH OF WHAT”

[Jacob Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest play I’ve ever seen. Lucky enough to watch Cole do their magic. Reading the play isn’t the same, but it took me right back to watching it. It’s such a tidy play. I loved the notes at the beginning:
1) Protect all of the surprises of the show.
2) Don’t let the audience get ahead of the story.
3) The stakes are high and everyone means what they say.

[M.K. Scotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Mother (Cole Escola)!

[Ellen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST and funniest plays I have read in AWHILE.

[Madison Merkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream role

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an absolutely fun, chaotic play about Mary Todd Lincoln, who aspires to go back to her career of being a cabaret star after Abraham Lincoln (basically) struggles to satisfy her. While I knew the pages would be hysterical (as this is a comedy), I completely didn’t expect all the twists and turns that took place within them. Cole Escola is truly a remarkable talent for penning this idea to paper. I would absolutely love to see this show live sometime, but I live nowhere near New York City & traveling Broadway plays are a rare occurrence in relation to the musical ones. My only critique of this script as to why it’s four stars instead of five is that, sometimes, I wished Escola had written like… More of a description in how certain lines were said or what the body language of their character was doing when they said them - in order to set some of the tone. However, maybe a lot of those things, the delivery of it all, just depends on the actor playing whoever and is more improvised since the script is so set. I don’t know. That was just the only thing that I could’ve done more with. I had to sometimes make guesses as to what the actor might’ve been doing (which was fun for the imagination!), but I would’ve liked something a little bit more concrete in terms of that.

[Megan Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not stopped thinking about this play since I saw it as my birthday present to myself right before Cole left the show. I’ve never seen anything like it. I think I need to see it again in 2026, with another Mary and then again if Cole comes back.

[Caitlyn DeRouin · Rating 1 out of 5]

i'm assuming it's funny on stage?

[Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

EGOT

[Mel Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

reminded me that reading plays on the page without seeing it in person can be funny, can be whimsical, can be perverse, and can really get the point across even if i’m not in the room with Cole

[Mandee · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm sure this is funny onstage. i believe in cole escola's completely batshit energy! unfortunately it reads like an snl sketch that's actively bombing.

[Dayna Cheatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! laughed the entire way through, i wanna see it depending on what the casting is. so good, i understand the hype!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

saw a year ago on Broadway, Cole Escola's mind!!!

[caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best play ever written