Feminist Play 'Oh, Mary!' Reimagines Mary Todd Lincoln in London's West End

A feminist reinterpretation of Mary Todd Lincoln's life, titled 'Oh, Mary!', is captivating audiences at the Trafalgar Theatre in London's West End. The production offers a radical perspective on visibility, contrasting with German theatrical traditions that emphasize moral instruction. In the UK, theater culture retains a Shakespearean spirit of blood, love, murder, and fantasy, avoiding state subsidies and leading to high ticket prices—up to £250 for shows like Robert Icke's current 'Romeo and Juliet' staging. Icke, known for radical classic revisions, will soon present his 'Oedipus' at the Residenztheater in Munich. The play's success highlights the vibrant, celebratory atmosphere of British theater, where audiences enthusiastically engage, differing from German norms. The article, published in Freitag, reflects on this cultural divergence through personal experience, noting the absence of government funding in the UK market.