"Unraveling the Hilarity of 'Oh, Mary!': Cole Escola's Off-Broadway Debut"

Cole Escola's Off Broadway debut play "Oh, Mary!" is a deranged and hilarious take on Mary Todd Lincoln, portrayed as a gremlinlike former cabaret star with no interest in her children. The play, directed by Sam Pinkleton, features bursts of broad, filthy comedy and a star vehicle for Escola, who delivers a performance full of verve and severity. While the play's plot developments become nonsensical, the ensemble keeps the audience engaged, and the show ends with a glorious cabaret sequence, tearing down the facade of legitimate theater.