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Oh Mary review: ridiculous, hilarious and completely camp

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Dino Fetscher (Mary's Teacher) and Mason Alexander Park (Mary Todd Lincoln)
Dino Fetscher (Mary's Teacher) and Mason Alexander Park (Mary Todd Lincoln). Picture: Manuel Harlan

By Johnny Jenkins

It’s a million miles away from fact, but it’s a stupendously funny tale of a family we’ve all heard of.

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I went into the show knowing nothing about its contents - and I loved it because of this. So I’m not going to tell you anything. I’m not even going to tell you who the incredibly famous figure that's depicted in the show is.

Mary is the main character, performed by the wonderful Mason Alexander Park. The character is ridiculous and super camp - somewhere between Rupaul’s Drag Race and Absolutely Fabulous.

She’s bored of being the wife of a very important person and turns to booze to pass the time. The alcohol drives her crazy and she leaves a destructive path everywhere she goes.

It’s over-the-top and completely hilarious.

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Picture: Manuel Harlan

Mary’s relationship with her teacher becomes a key part of the storyline, as does her husband’s sexual encounters.

It’s not a long show, running under 90 minutes, yet you get plenty of bang for your buck.

I won’t reveal how the show ends, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the conclusion. It felt unnecessary.

Oh Mary has been a huge Broadway success and I’m delighted it’s landed in London.

Oh Mary runs at the Trafalgar Theatre until April 2026.