OH, MARY Reviews (2026 New)

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/3/26 at 11:23pm

The other Oh, Mary reviews thread has mysteriously disappeared into the ether, so I’ll start a new one with JCM and Simu’s first night.

To make a long story short, JCM is, as expected, is absolutely phenomenal, and it starts immediately from the jump. They stormed through the doors and went into a front somersault to the lip of the stage like Willy Wonka on meth. From that point, I was already won over. They spent the entire show playing with voices, expressions, and would vacillate from Shakespearean performance, to Dynasty melodrama, to being an absolute demon. It reminded me a LOT of Jinkx’s first show where she came out swinging and everyone had to hold on for dear life; the difference here being that most of the cast is already firmly grounded. As the cultural ancestor of Cole and Mason’s style of subversive queer comedy, JCM fits like a glove. I thought to myself during the show that I feel like this is easily something they could’ve wrote 20 years ago had the idea germinated then.

Simu held his own with JCM and the rest of the cast. He has more of the adorable “aw, shucks” vibe that JCM’s Mary just absolutely makes hay with. He is by no means bad - his scene with JAM at the bar where he goes full queer was actually pretty hilarious and he added a new character gesture in that scene that I won’t spoil, but made me cackle.With time, he will be perfectly fine, but as of right now, this is John Cameron Mitchell’s Mary-verse of Madness and ya just gotta strap in and hold on to your butts

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 12:29am

quizking101 said: They stormed through the doors and went into a front somersault to the lip of the stage like Willy Wonka on meth. From that point, I was already won over.

 

considering the last time John was on Broadway he broke his leg in the first week of the run, this absolutely concerns me lol

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 12:53am

Did jcm sign at the stage door?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 1:29am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "quizking101 said: They stormed through the doors and went into a front somersault to the lip of the stage like Willy Wonka on meth. From that point, I was already won over.



considering the last time John was on Broadway he broke his leg in the first week of the run, this absolutely concerns me lol"


It was a knee injury, not a broken leg.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 2:31am

same difference, my point being I don’t think you can do Oh, Mary sitting on a crate the whole time

[bear882]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 4:47am

So you’re suggesting I should finally get around to seeing Oh, Mary when I am in town next month?

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 8:47am

How was JCM’s Madcap Medley? Anything added?

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 9:20am

FYI, JCM uses he/him pronouns.

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 9:48am

Okay - catching up:

Stage Door: I’m not sure. The first night, they usually have a toast for the new cast after the show and then people either leave or sign. I wouldn’t use the first night as an indicator of stagedoor habits.

Madcap Medley: Nothing added, and I think that’s on purpose. I remember Jane saying they were considering adding in “Muffin Man” for her, but ultimately ruled against it. I wouldn’t expect them to modify the madcap medley for anyone going forward.

The Somersault: Mary is a different animal than Hedwig. This was one optional trick, as opposed to 90 minutes of consistent song and dance while jumping on and off set pieces and in and out of the audience. I think they will be fine with the somersault.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 12:15pm

Since Oh, Mary isn't doing inserts, is Sean Peter Forte listed in the Playbill as a standby(since Julian is on vacation this week)?

[inception]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 9:55am

bear882 said: "So you’re suggesting I should finally get around to seeingOh, Marywhen I am in town next month?"

I think if you really wanted to see it you would have already booked tickets, especially being in town when JCM is in it.  Just seeing him would be a bucket list item for many.

If I counted correctly in QK's insta story yesterday this was his 30th (thirtieth!) time seeing OM!

How many mortgage payments does that equal?  Just teasing.  Don't answer that.

Back to Mr. Bear: or wait until it plays San Francisco on tour.  If the info on the tours page is correct and the tour is going to Las Vegas, then it will definitely be playing San Francisco & LA.  Maybe following same route as Suffs did last Fall?

Updated On: 2/5/26 at 09:55 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 10:04am

I get why people would want to see the madcap medley revised for replacements, particularly those with their own associated songs like JCM or Jane, but the medley is actually tightly and thoughtfully constructed to reflect the character arc, even if it is also very stupid. Slotting in new songs for fanservice would throw it off (as well as having to secure new rights). 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 11:36am

ACL2006 said: "Since Oh, Mary isn't doing inserts, is Sean Peter Forte listed in the Playbill as a standby(since Julian is on vacation this week)?"

He is not listed in the Playbill, It is still Manjerico, with Hannah and Martin also listed.

I think they will probably just put the notification on the Playbill cast changes website if he happens to be on. 

To also answer inception’s cheeky question/lowkey stalking my Instagram - It’s #36 (to count the Lortel, Lyceum, and once in London), making it my second most seen show of all time. Also, what mortgage? I’m a millenial - we don’t own property. 😂 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 1:58pm

ALSO, for those who are interested. Pretty much the entire cast is doing a “Niche Cabaret Legends” show at Green Room 42 on Monday night, with JCM & Simu performing with them.

https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/showdetails/nQ9UmE6KUbE9Tyf9846M/sap6gDf9QjOM8yrTf4er?reload=1770317818472
 

 

[JT2030]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 5:37pm

Took friends who hadn't yet seen it last night and we had a blast.

Echoing the sentiments thus far- JCM goes from 0 to 100 MPH from the start. There were laughs and deliveries of lines that I hadn't caught before --- this Mary is very much how her husband describes her early on as an agent of total chaos and it gives everyone's actions extra urgency. And (mild spoiler) JCM's descent from the desk was *fantastic* and rivals Betty Gilpin's, who remains my favorite. The way he throws himself into the physicality of the part is a joy.

Simu Liu is wonderful. There's such sincerity there that makes the turn all the more jarring. And the way all of the current cast is so quickly in sync with new principle company members is amazing. I hope this is the first of many stage appearances.

It seems to be on TKTS and prices adjust both up and down online and at the box office. It'll only get better as everyone finds their footing more with the timing. Whether you've seen it or not, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

[Eb1645827]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 6:17pm

Do we know any dates for Jenn Harris' or John-Andrew Morrison's vacations/planned absences? I want to see JCM, but I'd also love to catch an alternate for Mary's Chaperone or Mary's Husband, as I've already seen Harris and Morrison. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/8/26 at 2:43am

Harris was JUST on vacation before JCM started

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 2/8/26 at 9:15pm

Ugh, I thought he was almost as weak as Tituss (maybe weaker), and I haven’t seen anyone take as many liberties with the script/forget lines as much as he did. Really disappointing.

Updated On: 2/8/26 at 09:15 PM

[carlisle14]

Posted: 2/8/26 at 9:22pm

Finally got to see the show. I was quite underwhelmed. Flat energy. Nothing stood out. Very forgettable. Meh. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/8/26 at 9:45pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Harris was JUST on vacation before JCM started"

Harris was out for three days.

[The8re phan]

Posted: 2/11/26 at 9:28pm

Beyond sad to have just realized how brilliant it would have been to see Gavin Creel as Mary's Teacher....

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/11/26 at 10:02pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Ugh, I thought he was almost as weak as Tituss (maybe weaker), and I haven’t seen anyone take as many liberties with the script/forget lines as much as he did. Really disappointing."

The show itself still stands on its own.  We too found JCM the weakest of the 3 Mary's we've seen.  HIs timing seems off (and no, there was no front roll on entrance).  we were really excited to see JCM... and although he's not bad, by any means, he's not great in the role either and truly drops a lot of the comedic moments for "hissing" or odd line reads that don't land.

Cole will always be the queen of this role.  And Jinkx was a close second.  Have not seen others.  We are hoping the original cast returns again.  They had THE magic that makes this one work.

Morrison is miscast here - and he's missing the role almost completely.  Was not a fan of his Abe - at. all.   We missed Ricamora VERY much.  Truly Morrison should be replaced to make this all work better.   Macht is still great - but struggles due to the strange intricacies of the rest of the cast.  The timing and comedy just is not the same.  The show seems to not be maintained to well.  Maybe Pinkleton is too busy?

Liu is... fine.  never believable more basic prince charming.  His line readings are very basic, often overly sentimental and too earnest.  He looks fantastic - but he comes across as not an actor somehow ? (maybe that's a choice considering the character)?  Scully and Urie just have the chops to make it work.

Leigh is playing it too sing song-y and not making it work either.  They really could use some cast adjustments currently.  Having seen this 4 times with two different Mary's - this current administration needs a firmer hand or some real recasting.  It's just not firing well despite the excellent script.  The comedy is just laying flat a lot.

Really had high hopes for this administration - and this isn't the one.

Updated On: 2/11/26 at 10:02 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/11/26 at 11:11pm

People seem to either really like John Cameron Mitchell or not at all it seems

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 2/11/26 at 11:15pm

I have to say I agree about Morrison. When I saw him opposite Krakowski, I missed the rage that Ricamora, Nanjiani, and Philip Brennan brought to the role. If Abe is not driven by primal rage and priviledge, his scenes with Mary aren't properly balanced. He's solid; I enjoyed some of his take, but overall not a performance I particularly enjoyed.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/11/26 at 11:36pm

exactly.   Morrison feels wholly miscast.  I'm confused why he has the role.  

Updated On: 2/11/26 at 11:36 PM