Attend the tales of Mary Todd (Lincoln)

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 5/29/25 at 12:16am

For lovers of Tony trivia: If Cole Escola wins the Tony for Leading Actor in a Play for ''Oh, Mary!,'' they'll become the second performer who won for playing Mary Todd Lincoln. And if Escola wins for Best Play, they'll become the first playwright to win for a play about Mary Todd.

Lest you think that's a niche category, believe it or not, the 1972-73 Broadway season produced not one play, but THREE plays, about Mary Todd.

* ''The Lincoln Mask'' by V.J. Longhi (Oct. 30, 1972-Nov. 4, 1972; closed after 8 performances and 19 previews). Eva Marie Saint played Mary Todd, and it centered on her life with Lincoln  (1840-1865 ) and featured ''Our American Cousin.''
* ''The Last of Mrs. Lincoln'' by James Prideaux (Dec. 12, 1972-Feb. 4, 1973): The play depicted her life after Lincoln's assassination. Julie Harris played Mary Todd and Leora Dana played Elizabeth Edwards, Mary Todd's sister, and both won Tonys. The play also was turned into a 1976 PBS film.
* ''Look Away'' by Jerome Kilty (opened and closed Jan. 7, 1973, after 24 previews): Geraldine Page played Mary Todd and Maya Angelou played Elizabeth Keckley, her seamstress and confidente. Set in an asylum, it explored Mary Todd's mental state a decade after Abe's death.

And speaking of history, Fred Gwynne, best-known as Herman Munster on TV, played Abe in ''The Lincoln Mask.'' Sam Waterston was a Tony nominee for starring in the 1993 revival of ''Abe Lincoln in Illinois,'' opposite Lizbeth MacKay as Mary Todd. And now Conrad Ricamora is a Tony nominee for his riotous portrayal of Lincoln in ''Oh, Mary!''

Updated On: 5/29/25 at 12:16 AM

[inception]

Posted: 5/29/25 at 9:39am

Eva Marie Saint. Julie Harris. Geraldine Page. 

...Cole Escola

 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 5/29/25 at 10:16am

Updated On: 5/30/25 at 10:16 AM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 5/29/25 at 9:33pm

Broadway actor and author Ron Fassler recalls seeing two of these three Mary Todd Lincoln plays back in 1972 and 1973: catching Eva Marie Saint in ''The Lincoln Mask'' and Julie Harris in ''The Last of Mrs. Lincoln.'' He says he would've caught the third one, ''Look Away,'' starring Geraldine Page, had it not opened and closed on the same night: Jan. 7, 1973.

https://ronfassler.medium.com/lincolns-birthday-ffedfdf23d87