Cole Escola’s "Oh Mary!" Opens On The Great White Way!

I love him. A smart, confident gay guy. Glad this show is doing so well for him. (Sorry, breaking from the ranks)

OP is one of those retards who won't tolerate any criticism of a gay celebrity.

Amy's neighbor! Good for them.

[quote] This is Datalounge so we have to hate him now, right?

MARY!

This ought to do it: I’m pretty sure he’s a they/them.

I've always liked him.

Glad he has found his niche.

I have tickets in August! So excited.

[quote]This is Datalounge so we have to hate him now, right?

No, the trolls are still on Chalamet. Escola will have to wait in line for abuse.

I saw it at the Lucille Lortel theater in the west village. It was an absolute riot. Demented even. Everyone, including me, roared. I'm curious to see how it plays in a big Broadway venue. Not sure it will transfer over so well. Part of what made it so fun was the audience - which was 75% gay men - and the intimacy of a smaller space.

I guess we'll see.

I saw it Off-Broadway, and as R9 indicates, everyone seemed to be roaring throughout. Except for me. I found some of it amusing, but the demented reaction didn't make a lot of sense to me. My loss, I guess -- God knows you're hard-pressed to find a bad, or even a mixed, review -- but now, having also checked out a bunch of Escola's videos, I have to conclude that I just don't get it.

I find his humor to be just a little too aware of itself to be really funny, as much as I want to like him.

Too soon.

Not funny.

Offensive.

Maybe that's it, R11. Glad to know I'm not alone!

Is his humor like Randy Rainbow?

Cole is a filthy little weirdo, and deserving of some sticky success on Broadway.

He's like a more musical version of John Waters. Maybe the Archbishop of Trash.

R12, if parodies of events that happened in the mid-19th century are "too soon," then what is old enough to parody, would Oh, Antigone! be okay? Also, who on Earth is offended by some gay guy miming Mary Todd Lincoln.

Gurl, I'm pretty sure that was a joke.

[woosh!]

[quote]MARY!

OH,

I didn’t like the show off broadway. Didn’t find it funny.

But I love Cole. Have loved his work for years. Happy for him.

Saw it a few weeks ago and I have thoughts!

It’s the right length as an 80min one-act. The whole thing is basically an extended, delightfully wack character sketch.

Coke’s embodiment of Mary and comedic gifts are terrific. I laughed throughout. And the plot twists were energetic and creative.

The audience was heavily gay/queer and enthusiastic , and that added something to the experience.

Cole/Mary’s lengthy 10-12 minute cabaret revue at the end came across as self-indulgent and unnecessary after the first 5 minutes.

Overall 8/10 and recommended!

Got a great review today in the NYT...

R16 Are you autistic?

And they wonder why Broadway is dead.

r22 Nice to see Conrad Ricamora getting a shout out in that piece as someone who stands out. I've always liked him.

Will this be filmed at some point, so those of us across the ocean blue can see it one day?

R16, are you on a spectrum of some kind?

Did you poop yourself the first time you saw "The Producers" because you thought people had to think Brooks was championing the Nazis because of the gaps in your capacity?

That's okay, buddy. It's good to be special.

He's hiarious...

Bitch stole my act.

It’s his old comedy partner Jeffery Self who was the loathsome one.

Is John Early jealous?

Here he is on Late Night w/Seth Meyers promting the play

I think I've seen him in stuff here and there but I love him in this interview -- or them.. I think Seth said "them"??? I'm an old and haven't gotten the hang of it yet, but I'm trying

Yes he’s nonbinary and goes by they them.

What an asshole.

LOL that see that horrible wig is nearly worth the price of admission!

erm, TO see that horrible wig ...

He sounds wearisome r33

SO they have to be a DLer, right?

[quote]I love him. A smart, confident gay guy.

Cole Escola is a THEY/THEM, so not sure about the "gay guy" thing, but of course, he is!

I’ve always found him funny. Don’t get the they/them shit and don’t play along.

The closing makes the show. The rest is a series of blackouts which are hit or miss. The subplot about Lincoln is more interesting than the Mary plot.

It looks like a lot of fun. I'm going to try to see it in August.

[quote]R16 Are you autistic?

You need to consult DL's autism troll for one of his instant diagnoses.

oh, yes. they al all dl-ers.

How will this play after the assassination attempt?

Raves! Raves I tell you!!!

R45: I saw it the night of the Trump shooting. It didn't affect anything.

Amy Sedaris made him a star.

R44, When did Bowen Yang get kinda hot? He's lost weight and looks so young in that video.

He looks worryingly like Amy Adams there, R48.

I love his slaw.

Friends ADORED this

Is Cole single?

Notice that no one has mentioned James Scully. I'm guessing he's not that memorable or great in the show.

Saw it tonight. HILARIOUS and clever. The theater was perfect as it felt like a nod to the theatre Lincoln was assassinated in.

James Scully was great. They ALL were. I pity the poor understudy for Cole because if had to miss a performance there goes the heart and soul of the show.

I won't share anymore because the plot twists were hysterical.

Go see it if you can.

I'm available for the national tour.

I wonder if Cole ever auditioned for SNL? He would be perfect for the show.

I don't think he'd want it; he's doing just fine on his own, forging his own path. He's a writer on Hacks, does work with Amy Sedaris, and lots of other quirky projects he's suited for.

I have a feeling that Cole will be a host on SNL next season.

Jeffrey Self his old "Jeffery & Cole Casserole" partner came opening night and posted a photo on his Instagram.

Hooray for mediocrity!

What is Jeffrey up to these days?

I know I'm supposed to find Cole hilarious, but I just don't.

I've got tickets for August. Looking forward to it.

[quote]I know I'm supposed to find Cole hilarious, but I just don't.

There's a lotta things about R63 you don't know anything about. Things you wouldn't understand. Things you couldn't understand. Things you shouldn't understand. You don't wanna get mixed up with a guy like him. He's a loner. A rebel.

[quote]How will this play after the assassination attempt?

Oh Melania!

Get fucked r65. Everybody has their own opinions. I want to find him funny, but I just don't.

I thought the show was fun and everyone was very good in it. I do think it leans a little too heavily on crude humor. Most of the biggest jokes came from someone screaming a curse word. Compared to something like Titanique, which I loved, I found it a little too slight and a little less clever.

I don't think his YouTube videos are funny.

Opening night.

He’s scheduled to be on “The View” this morning.

Breaks Lyceum House Record and extends to November.

Cole and The Gaggle.

Oh my, this is not for MY CHRISTIAN CHILDREN. This is an outrage. I’m calling the manager.

He was gut bustingly funny in Difficult People. I am going to try to see this soon.

The podcast he did with Jeffrey Self called Breakfast Buffet is one of the funniest things I’ve ever listened to. It didn’t get much traction, but I devoured every episode. It’s one of the reasons I was a little disappointed with the play because the podcast set my bar so high. The play’s funny, just a little less than I expected.

He’s an obnoxious, unfunny Yassss Kween, who is only getting attention because he’s crossdressing. The Gay Gaggle get in formation so easily, it’s becoming comical to watch the trends and things these homos will “gag” over.

You sound...uh unfulfilled R77.

R78 you sound… uh like a sheep

please, it's like amy...you like it or you don't.

all popsicles are not the same.

I’d suggest that the show is good, which would be enough. But what the gays have done is overhype it, which is something we have become increasingly good at doing. So now it’s a pretty funny show being presented as a comedy tour de force. I don’t think it’s that.

Broadway shows have become so gay over the past couple of decades, but so has the audience. Speaking as an outsider who has only seen a few New York shows but who has always been interested in theater, maybe my take seems silly, but there was a time Broadway audiences were probably more "tired businessman" and couples, and people who went out as a small group to the theater after dinner. Along with gays. Now it seems to be by gays, for gays.

I saw it this week and was not familiar with him or what the play was about, and on the whole I found it to be hilarious. Yes it dragged just a bit in the middle, but to me most of the jokes and over-the-top comedy landed really well. Thought Cole was dynamic. But it’s certainly not for everyone. I kept picturing my parents watching it and going “wtf is this sh*t”?

Abe shouts overmuch.

Keeping the thread and the “eye” doesn’t work

Have you consulted an optometrist, r85?

I've been a fan of Cole's work for years and as a fan I completely enjoyed "Oh Mary!" Having said that, I didn't flip my wig the way my date did. He was totally unfamiliar with Cole and he was losing his mind laughing. Not sure what it all means? Maybe I was already "broken in" to Cole's comedy stylings and have seen way funnier bits of his over the years. There is some REALLY funny deep-cut stuff online that blows me away. This play was adorable, and a wonderful way to spend 80 minutes. I am happy for Cole above all. It was wild, random idea for a show and he pulls it off brilliantly. I just think if you've lived a lot of life and have been exposed to every kind of drag performance, underground comedy thing, top tier symphony stuff, if you are truly immersed in the arts and are worldy...then Oh, Mary! is an amuse bouche. It's not a three-course-meal. But again, I'm not one of those people who are ever going to say "I wish I could get those 80 minutes back!" and flounce around, even if something is a complete piece of shit, I never feel that it's a waste of time to spend time in the theater. There is zero reason not to go see "Oh, Mary!" other than you lack the funds or you live too far away. Otherwise, I find it petty to hem and haw, when this little Cole fellow has been honing his craft and carving out his place in the world for years and years. Go support the kiddo. He's earned it. And it's clear that a ton of thought and heart went into the writing of this play.

I will also say there is a scene that is exceptionally funny, having to do with Lincoln, whose been trying to sort out the Civil War in spite of Mary's antics causing him to be distracted constantly. At one point we see him raising his hands to God and praying for forgiveness. I won't spoil the rest. That scene got a sincere hard guffaw out of me. Delightful.

I'm sure the money (and the attention) is nice, but performing the same thing over and over and over again is my idea of hell.

Cole out, Betty in.

[quote]Oh, Mary! without Cole Escola? As it turns out, yes. The Broadway hit comedy, which recently became the first production of the season to recoup its production cost, will have a new Mary Todd Lincoln beginning January 21 when Glow actor Betty Gilpin will take over the role for a limited 8-week engagement.

[quote]Gilpin’s engagement runs from Tuesday, January 21, 2025, through Sunday, March 16, 2025. Interestingly, Oh, Mary! also announced today that a new block of tickets for the play are on sale through Saturday, June 28, 2025. So who will play Mary from late March through June? Stay tuned.

So "Oh Mary" is getting a "Glow"-up?

All the theatre queens who already saw him in this play are surely stampeding to the tickets right now to a) see him one last time and b) see Betty in her limited run.

Soon Amy will be begging to be on THEIR show!

Her days are numbered.

Who the fuck wants to see her? Predict empty seats, even at a major discount.

A biological woman? Pass