OH, MARY Reviews (2026 New)- Page 2

[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

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 11:01am

Any rumours of idea of whos replacing JCM? I will at NY during first week of May

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 11:09am

Maya Rudolph has been rumored.

[getatme]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 11:43am

I saw JCM at the end of his first week and thought he was a bit tentative but there was some great stuff brewing there that I think will come to fruition in the coming weeks. He gets the sense of humor, he just needs to fully commit a bit more. I thought his Madcap Medley was brilliant start to finish though.

Jenn Harris, who I found wonderful when I saw her with Jinkx, is really a standout now. Just excellent.

Tony Macht is still reliable and great.

Simu Liu started off a bit one note and try hard, but I thought he settled in as the show went on and his saloon scene really got me.

John-Andrew Morrison is just...not great. His performance reads like one you would send out on tour or like a sufficient enough understudy. But next to the other actors he feels completely out at sea. At the risk of sounding offensive, he is playing the gay reveal right from his very first scene and pulling back on the rage and sort of toxic masculinity almost entirely, which results in several moments not landing. Especially the "No more gay" moment. I never really bought into him playing this role and it was a one rather bum note of the evening. He's an improvement over Kumail Nanjiani for sure, but doesn't even come close to what Conrad Ricamora was able to do with the role.

 

[SkidRow82]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 12:17pm

TotallyEffed said: "Maya Rudolph has been rumored."

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeallly hoping these rumors are true! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 12:35pm

I saw John a few days ago and thought he was a riot. I’ve seen this show 14 times now and basically know every word to it so I can tell you that if John was going off book before, he’s sticking exactly to the script now, save for one or two TINY little things once or twice. He also added a few different quirks to his Mary that haven’t seen anyone else attempt to do yet which was refreshing. I can’t wait to see him again later in his run to see how he ends it.

I love Simu but was a bit unimpressed until the saloon scene when he just, out of nowhere, transformed into a completely different character and it had me in stitches. Not sure if he’s another one who needs some time to settle into being on stage but also curious how he’ll be in a couple months. 
 

[getatme]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 1:03pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I love Simu but was a bit unimpressed until the saloon scene when he just, out of nowhere, transformed into a completely different character and it had me in stitches. Not sure if he’s another one who needs some time to settle into being on stage but also curious how he’ll be in a couple months."

His saloon scene was a riot. The immediate switch to stereotypical Hell's Kitchen gay made me cackle. When he tried to crawl over the Lincoln at one point I thought I was gonna fall over. Wish he had a bit more energy at the start, but that scene alone made him worthwhile to me. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 1:27pm

Morrison should be recast.  Agree he feels like the tour understudy in the part.  He just doesn't work.  Harris just doesn't at all feel real.  She feels like a cut out character and so the scenes don't hit.  As a whole, outside of Macht -- the show just felt underwhelming.  A regional theater production with "your local favorites".  JCM has potential - and we love him - but last night he could not find the moments and ran over joke after joke.  Without an Abe being MORE harsh and dominant JCM's Mary just comes off as mean without the funny.  They should keep Macht, clean house and bring in great comedic actors for this.  It was so good originally.

Updated On: 2/12/26 at 01:27 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 1:42pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Morrison should be recast. Agree he feels like the tour understudy in the part. He just doesn't work. Harris just doesn't at all feel real. She feels like a cut out character and so the scenes don't hit. As a whole, outside of Macht -- the show just felt underwhelming. A regional theater production with "your local favorites". JCM has potential - and we love him - but last night he could not find the moments and ran over joke after joke. Without an Abe being MORE harsh and dominant JCM's Mary just comes off as mean without the funny. They should keep Macht, clean house and bring in great comedic actors for this. It was so good originally."

Clean house? Girl, they recast every few months. It’s not like CHICAGO, where cast members have been there since the Bush II years. Morrison, as of now, is the second most tenured Abe after Ricamora, but he will be leaving in April with JCM and Simu - at which point we spin the wheel for the next combo.

It takes time for everyone to get their rhythm when new cast members come in, and we’re only into the second week of a 12-week stint. Relax. Besides, it takes AT LEAST 2-3 weeks to get someone rehearsed and onboard before they hit the stage. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 1:50pm

I’d still give anything for 8 weeks of a “Broadway Greats” cast, like 

Mary - Patti LuPone

Abe - Brian Stokes Mitchell

Louise - Audra McDonald

John - Jonathan Groff

Simon - Lin Manuel Miranda

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 2:35pm

Also it should be noted that most replacements in this show including the Mary's are only getting about a week or so of rehearsal time so they are very much finding their footing in performance 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 2:40pm

FYI, Julian is on as Mary's Teacher this entire weekend.

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 3:11pm

ACL2006 said: "FYI, Julian is on as Mary's Teacher this entire weekend."

Only today through Saturday. Simu is back on Sunday (he’s out for the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game)

[yahyahyah]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 5:05pm

delete

Updated On: 2/12/26 at 05:05 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 5:55pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I’d still give anything for 8 weeks of a “Broadway Greats” cast, like

Mary - Patti LuPone

Abe - Brian Stokes Mitchell

Louise - Audra McDonald

John - Jonathan Groff

Simon - Lin Manuel Miranda"

Not mad at this but would scrap Brian and Lin ... for Patrick Page & someone not Lin.  Maybe Ethan Slater.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 5:58pm

"Relax. Besides, it takes AT LEAST 2-3 weeks to get someone rehearsed and onboard before they hit the stage."

Won't relax when you we know how could it COULD be -- and it's just not there.  Paying good money the cast could and should be better - as well as better rehearsed.  It feels like the maintaining people on the show could and should be better with Pinkleton busy. And again, Morrison isn't it.   They are a recouped hit.  Rehearse it more.

We were just shocked how the great show had deflated with some of the cast.

Updated On: 2/12/26 at 05:58 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/15/26 at 12:47pm

I went last night again to see Julian Manjerico as Mary’s Teacher and I can see some of the quibbles people are having.

I think part of the issue is the fact that JCM is leaning into a different approach than his predecessors and emphasizing different bits. For those of us who are the repeat offenders in seeing this show, it’s possible we are used to particular moments being emphasized for comedic effect, and so when JCM goes over them, it does seem like he’s steamrolling the good jokes. Based on the (likely more unbiased) audience response yesterday, whatever JCM is doing is still garnering many moments of collective laughter from the audience, so he has to be doing something right. I also think he plays better off of Manjerico at this time since he has the role under his belt pretty well - like a cross between James Scully and Cheyenne Jackson. I highly recommend catching him if he is on because, though he is young, he definitely can play a bit older and mirrors Michael Urie’s breakdown during the saloon scene.

The criticism of Morrison I don’t entirely understand. I will say he can tone down the overall camping - I do notice it has become a bit more pronounced since he started with Jane - and play some of the moments broader/more dragged out (particularly the “no more gay” desk moment). I still think he’s doing fine though. He does particularly get a lot of mileage out of his accented pronunciation of Simon as “SIIIYAMUUN!” which the audience finds hilarious once they catch on.

I hope Tony Macht stays in the show until it closes. I love Martin Landry’s take, but there is really nothing like his perpetually at-attention posture and wide-eyed naïveté.

[Observation]

Posted: 2/15/26 at 2:01pm

quizking101 said: "I went last night again to see Julian Manjerico as Mary’s Teacher and I can see some of the quibbles people are having.

I think part of the issue is the fact that JCM is leaning into a different approach than his predecessors and emphasizing different bits. For those of us who are the repeat offenders in seeing this show, it’s possible we are used to particular moments being emphasized for comedic effect, and so when JCM goes over them, it does seem like he’s steamrolling the good jokes. Based on the (likely more unbiased) audience response yesterday, whatever JCM is doing is still garnering many moments of collective laughter from the audience, so he has to be doing something right. I also think he plays better off of Manjerico at this time since he has the role under his belt pretty well - like a cross between James Scully and Cheyenne Jackson. I highly recommend catching him if he is on because, though he is young, he definitely can play a bit older and mirrors Michael Urie’s breakdown during the saloon scene.

The criticism of Morrison I don’t entirely understand. I will say he can tone down the overall camping - I do notice it has become a bit more pronounced since he started with Jane - and play some of the moments broader/more dragged out (particularly the “no more gay” desk moment). I still think he’s doing fine though. He does particularly get a lot of mileage out of his accented pronunciation of Simon as “SIIIYAMUUN!” which the audience finds hilarious once they catch on.

I hope Tony Macht stays in the show until it closes. I love Martin Landry’s take, but there is really nothing like his perpetually at-attention posture and wide-eyed naïveté."

Maybe using  spoiler tag if deemed necessary, can you articulate which bits/moments you feel JCM is glossing over? I’ve seen the show with Cole and Hannah and would love the comparison. 
 

I saw Morrison with Hannah and thought he was hilarious. I was close enough to see facial expressions more prominently this time and thought his facial expressions were hilarious and still think about his “oh fuuuuuck” and laugh about it. He wasn’t as manic as Conrad and I liked that balance between him and Mary. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/15/26 at 2:31pm

I wonder if Charles Busch would ever step in.

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/15/26 at 3:24pm

Observation said: "quizking101 said: "I went last night again to see Julian Manjerico as Mary’s Teacher and I can see some of the quibbles people are having.

I think part of the issue is the fact that JCM is leaning into a different approach than his predecessors and emphasizing different bits. For those of us who are the repeat offenders in seeing this show, it’s possible we are used to particular moments being emphasized for comedic effect, and so when JCM goes over them, it does seem like he’s steamrolling the good jokes. Based on the (likely more unbiased) audience response yesterday, whatever JCM is doing is still garnering many moments of collective laughter from the audience, so he has to be doing something right. I also think he plays better off of Manjerico at this time since he has the role under his belt pretty well - like a cross between James Scully and Cheyenne Jackson. I highly recommend catching him if he is on because, though he is young, he definitely can play a bit older and mirrors Michael Urie’s breakdown during the saloon scene.

The criticism of Morrison I don’t entirely understand. I will say he can tone down the overall camping - I do notice it has become a bit more pronounced since he started with Jane - and play some of the moments broader/more dragged out (particularly the “no more gay” desk moment). I still think he’s doing fine though. He does particularly get a lot of mileage out of his accented pronunciation of Simon as “SIIIYAMUUN!” which the audience finds hilarious once they catch on.

I hope Tony Macht stays in the show until it closes. I love Martin Landry’s take, but there is really nothing like his perpetually at-attention posture and wide-eyed naïveté."

Maybe using spoiler tag if deemed necessary, can you articulate which bits/moments you feel JCM is glossing over? I’ve seen the show with Cole and Hannah and would love the comparison.

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

A few that I noticed both times off the top of my head:

1) After Abe discusses about his “reputation for a dead wife”, JCM storms toward the doors without making a prolonged indignant exit.

2) The “I can’t remember if I cried” delay during the medley

 

 

[RussT2]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 3:04pm

JCM was wonderful. Saw the 2/15 evening performance. He makes the role his own. Was so happy to see Jenn Harris on Broadway. I've been following her career for years since she was a regular at Our Hit Parade at Joe's Pub 15 years ago. It's just such a well written show that it doesn't need to be 2 hours long. I saw it twice with the original cast and they were pitch perfect, but with the right performers it could keep playing for a few years.

Updated On: 2/16/26 at 03:04 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 3:18pm

Updated On: 2/16/26 at 03:18 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 3:45pm

TotallyEffed said: "I wonder ifCharles Busch would ever step in."

He supposedly didn't enjoy the show... (or so I've heard.)

[Kad]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 4:29pm

quizking101 said: "

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

A few that I noticed both times off the top of my head:

1) After Abe discusses about his “reputation for a dead wife”, JCM storms toward the doors without making a prolonged indignant exit.

2) The “I can’t remember if I cried” delay during the medley"

 

 

In re: that second point, of the 3 Marys I've seen (Escola, Jinkx, Krakowski), only Escola really made that moment really work. Since that's not really a bit that's in the text, I'm fine with replacements losing it altogether if it's not landing for them. 

Updated On: 2/16/26 at 04:29 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/16/26 at 6:40pm

I liked JCM, well enough. I thought he found some fresh jokes, which I appreciated. I will say he goes back and forth between talking in a lower register, oddly - and when he does slip into that voice, it can be somewhat hard to hear him. Simu was nothing more than fine, up until that saloon sequence - he finally won me over there. I love Jenn Harris in this SO much. She would sell $10 worth of tickets, but I’d love to see her tackle Mary. You simply can’t teach her comedic timing and skillset. 

If I’m ranking (I haven’t seen Hannah):

1. Cole
2. Jinkx (I’m honestly tempted to put Jinkx first - that’s how good she was.)
3. Jane
4. Betty
5. JCM
6. Tituss