A portrait that lacks focus and, ultimately, fails to develop.
In what feels like either a wild coincidence or a bold bit of counter-programming, London currently finds itself host to two Mary Todd Lincoln plays. While the Broadway hit Oh, Mary! leans into high-camp comedy, Mrs. President, returning to the Charing Cross Theatre for a second year, takes a decidedly more dour approach. Unfortunately, even with the addition of powerhouse star Keala Settle, this production struggles to develop any real momentum.
The primary hurdle lies in John Ransom Phillips’ script, which often feels less like a cohesive drama and more like a delivery system for historical footnotes. Characters frequently drop facts that feel shoehorned in, resulting in stilted dialogue that never quite mimics natural human speech. While the play attempts to explore themes of identity through the lens of portrait photography, the metaphors are simultaneously too transparent and under-explored. Because the play fails to make the audience warm to Mary before she is consumed by the grief of losing her son and husband, Settle is left with remarkably little emotional variety to work with.
Hal Fowler takes on the unenviable task of playing every other character, from celebrity photographer Matthew Brady to surreal figments of Mary’s imagination. Fowler is forced to announce the full names of historical figures whose significance will likely be lost on anyone without a deep background in 19th-century Americana, leaving the audience feeling like they’ve missed a vital piece of context. Furthermore, the central dynamic is puzzling. It is never quite clear why Brady is the chosen vessel for Mary’s history, especially since his character undergoes almost no development throughout the runtime.
The production isn’t without its charms, though they are purely aesthetic. The costuming is a genuine highlight, featuring an impressive array of era-appropriate dresses, and the clever set and lighting design allow the photography studio to transform into various locations with ease. However, these visual flourishes cannot mask the lack of narrative depth. Unless you are already an aficionado of Lincoln family lore, Mrs. President offers little more than a beautiful wardrobe in search of a compelling story.