Cole Escola conquers Broadway, Chris Perfetti roars like a queer lion & a first look at Kristin Chenoweth’s “The Queen of Versailles”
Oh, Mary!. The performance concluded with an ecstatic standing ovation and after-party at The Eagle. (Where else does Broadway glitterati celebrate than an iconic leather bar?)Loosely based — if by name only — on the cabaret dreams of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Escola’s wacky comedy drew raves when it opened Off-Broadway earlier this year.
The transfer arrives with the original cast intact, including Escola in the title role, Conrad Ricamora as Mary’s Husband, and James Scully as Mary’s Acting Coach.Director Sam Pinkleton keeps the pace brisk at a tight 80 minutes while still giving breathing room for Escola’s smartly crafted script, which finds a petulant Mary facing off against everyone she encounters.
Without giving away any spoilers, let’s just say her fantasies come true in a show-stopping finale played with laugh-out-loud sincerity.
Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Escola’s triumph is nothing short of radical following a Broadway season that took a step backward on queer and trans visibility.
