Hit comedy play Oh, Mary! is captivating audiences in the West End, and is now starring British comedian and actress Lolly Adefope as former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Here’s everything you need to know about the show, the cast and how to get tickets.
The Olivier and Tony Award-winning smash-hit comedy Oh, Mary! opened in the West End in December 2025 to rave reviews at the Trafalgar Theatre with Mason Alexander Park (Cabaret, Much Ado About Nothing) playing Mary Lincoln Todd.
The play currently stars British comedian and Ghosts actress Lolly Adefope as Mary Todd Lincoln, who will play the role until 5 December 2026. The character of Mary has also been taken on in the West End by the show’s creator Cole Escola (Difficult People, At Home with Amy Sedaris), drag star Jinkx Monsoon and Catherine Tate.
Due to popular demand, Oh, Mary! has extended its West End run until 2 January 2027.
Book tickets for Oh, Mary! here
Key dates and venue
Oh, Mary! is now playing in London at the Trafalgar Theatre in the West End. It is booking until 2 January 2027.
First-timer’s guide: What is Oh, Mary! about?
Oh, Mary! is an 80-minute, one-act comedy that reimagines the final days of Mary Todd Lincoln, the troubled wife of US President Abraham Lincoln.
Written by and originally starring Cole Escola, the play is a dark hilarious, absurd, and camp re-telling that mixes history, heartbreak, and satire. Audiences can expect a surreal exploration of grief, madness, and identity — with sharp one-liners and absurdist twists that have made it one of the most talked-about new plays of recent years.
The official synopsis
Oh, Mary! is a dark comedy about a miserable, suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires abound in this 80-minute one-act play that finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln, through the lens of an idiot (playwright Cole Escola).
Oh, Mary! West End and Broadway reviews round-up
Oh, Mary! has proved a huge hit both on Broadway and in the West End. Here are some select quotes from critics:
- ★★★★★ “Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! is not just funny: It is dizzyingly, breathtakingly funny, the kind of funny that ambushes your body into uncontained laughter… The funniest play in years” (Time Out New York)
- ★★★★ “The Great White Way has not witnessed a comedy this funny, or a comedic star turn this dazzling, in at least a decade.” (The New York Post)
- ★★★★ “This knowingly bogus portrait of the First Lady as a dipsomaniac and frustrated cabaret star is a riot, laced with a truth about the necessity of self-expression.” (The Telegraph)
- ★★★★ “Step up American comedian Cole Escola, who is here to fill in the gaps with a wickedly camp, historically outrageous and ridiculously funny melodrama, in which Mary is very much not the figure from history.” (The Financial Times)
- ★★★★ “In the hands of the inimitable Cole Escola, the former first lady is the buzziest, and funniest, theater draw this summer.” (The Guardian)
- ★★★★ “This imaginary version of Mary is a captivating creation – melodramatic, childish, and monstrously self-absorbed.” (The Independent)
- “Cole Escola’s riotous, extremely faux-historical farce, Oh, Mary!, has begun its Broadway run, and long may it reign” (Vulture)
- “Escola’s brilliantly loopy writing and knockabout performance—which also recalls the great gifts of Carol Burnett—won me over.” (The Wall Street Journal)
- “The play, which opened on Thursday at the Lyceum Theater, is one of the best crafted and most exactingly directed Broadway comedies in years. Which is a surprise on many levels, and on each level a gift.” (New York Times)
See more reviews for Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre
Mason Alexander Park and the West End Oh, Mary! cast
Creative team
The play is written by Cole Escola, known for their work on Difficult People, Search Party, and At Home with Amy Sedaris.
The Broadway and West End productions were directed by Sam Pinkleton, who won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for his work on the show. With inventive staging and stylised design, the production leaned into Escola’s absurdist writing, creating an intimate yet larger-than-life comedy.
Joining Pinkleton for the London production are dots (Scenic Designer), Holly Pierson (Costume Designer), Cha See (Lighting Designer), Daniel Kluger(Sound Design and Music), Drew Levy (Sound Designer), Leah J. Loukas (Wig Designer), David Dabbon(Arrangements) with Casting by Stuart Burt CDG.
The London production carries forward the same camp, irreverent energy that made it such a breakout success in New York.
Who’s in it? West End and Broadway cast highlights
The current cast of Oh, Mary! in the West End includes:
| Role | Performer |
| Lolly Adefope | Mary Todd Lincoln (until 5 December) |
| Syrus Lowe | Mary’s Husband |
| Lucy Frederick | Mary’s Chaperone |
| J.R. Ballantyne | Mary’s Husband’s Assistant |
| Vinnie Heaven | Mary’s Teacher |
Notable casting:
- Mason Alexander Park (The Sandman) originated the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the West End, following a stunning performance as The Emcee in the West End revival of Cabaret.
- Giles Terera (Hamilton, Othello) originated the role of Mary’s Husband, Abraham Lincoln in the West End. He followed up with a role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic. He returned to the role for a brief run from 21 July until 15 August, during which time it was filmed.
- Catherine Tate (Doctor Who) starred as Mary for a limited run, taking over from Mason Alexander Park.
- Cole Escola, who wrote and starred in Oh, Mary! on Broadway will make their West End debut later this year as Mary Todd Lincoln, a role for which they won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
- Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), who appeared as Mary’s Teacher in the Broadway production, made a brief appearance in the West End, from 21 July until 1 August.
- Jinkx Monsoon (Little Shop of Horrors, RuPaul’s Drag Race) starred as Mary in the West End from 17 August to 26 September 2026. Monsoon took over the role from Cole Escola. Similarly, Monsoon took over from Escola on Broadway and played a sold out run as Mary.
- Lolly Adefope (Ghosts, Shrill) is playing Mary from 28 September until 5 December 2026.
On Broadway, Oh, Mary! became a showcase for both rising stars and big-name guest performers.
Written by and originally starring Cole Escola as Mary Todd Lincoln, the play quickly earned a reputation as a cult hit with awards success and a revolving door of celebrity casting, including:
- Mary Todd Lincoln: Betty Gilpin (Three Women, The Hunt, Glow, Nurse Jackie), Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Songs For A New World), Jinkx Monsoon (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Jane Krakowski, John Cameron Mitchell, Maya Rudolph and Megan Stalter
- Mary’s Husband: Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building, Silicon Valley, The Big Sick), John-Andrew Morrison (Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Last OG) and Phillip James Brannon.
- Mary’s Teacher: Michael Urie (Shrinking, Single All The Way, Ugly Betty), Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story) and Simu Liu (Barbie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).
This rotating casting model kept the show fresh and added to its celebrity appeal, with each new performer brings a distinctive energy and draws in new audiences. From acclaimed actors like Betty Gilpin and Jane Krakowski to comedy favourites such as Tituss Burgess, Jinkx Monsoon, and Kumail Nanjiani, the production has demonstrated its ability to attract top-tier talent.
Oh, Mary! on Broadway
Why Oh, Mary! made headlines
- West End Debut – Cole Escola makes their West End debut in Oh, Mary! Escola’s performance as Mary Todd Lincoln on Broadway was hailed as a comic tour de force.
- ⭐Olivier Award wins – Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
- Mason Alexander Park, who originated the role of Mary Lincoln Todd in the West End, won a 2026 Ian Charleson Award.
- ⭐ Tony Award wins – Best Leading Actor in a Play (Cole Escola) and Best Direction of a Play (Sam Pinkleton).
- Pulitzer Prize finalist – recognised as one of the best new American plays of the year.
- Cult status – Escola’s performance as Mary Todd Lincoln was hailed as a comic tour de force.
- ✍️ Critical acclaim – “The funniest play in years” (Time Out New York); “a work of deranged beauty” (New York Magazine).
- Starry appeal – high-profile replacements such as Betty Gilpin, Tituss Burgess, Jinkx Monsoon, Kumail Nanjiani, and Michael Urie boosted the show’s reputation as a celebrity magnet.
Why see Oh, Mary! in London?
- One of Broadway’s most acclaimed new comedies.
- Winner of multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer finalist.
- Created by and originally starring Cole Escola, one of New York’s most original comic voices.
- A history-meets-camp satire that has captivated audiences and critics alike.
- It’s down right hilarious!
How to book tickets to Oh, Mary!
Book your tickets now for the wickedly funny Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre in London. Tickets for Jinkx Monsoon’s limited run are now on sale.
Updated: 30 September 2026 – Lolly Adefope stars as Mary from 28 September 2026 until 5 December 2026.
Trafalgar Theatre, London
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