Mrs President
Mary Lincoln is a woman fighting her own war with grief, with the people around her and with herself. As she is accused of many things by others including treason, her main aim is to rebuild her public image and win back the hearts of the American people. Turning to renowned celebrity photographer, Matthew Brady, the man who helped her husband, Abraham Lincoln, win the presidency, this action only leads to a struggle between the two for creative control and unravels Mary's struggle to hold on to reality.
Containing references to attempted suicide, racism, slavery, child loss, and mental illness, John Ransom Phillips' script is not afraid to tell it how it was. His use of Brady's character (played by Sam Jenkins-Shaw) to portray the misogynistic views of the society of the time and the views of what a women's behaviour should be, is nicely written.
The use of lace within Gregor Donnelly's costume design captures the era well and represents the melancholy of Mary as she is constantly under valued by the men around her. It shows her strength and the labour of her character to achieve all that she has. It's also a nice metaphor to Mary's trapped wings as if she were a bird unable to fly in response to the constraints she is living under.
Miriam Grace Edwards portrayal of Mary is faultless, the decent into her mental health struggles leave us questioning if these were actually brought in in response to her feelings towards her situation and behaviours from the wider society.
The use of videography (video design by Matt Powell) adds on another level, as the thoughts of the characters alongside their movements and later on they become haunting as Mary is haunted by the people she has lost. The stories of the chair and the camera additionally add another voice within this two handed play.
A delightful insight into an otherwise unnoticed slice of history.
This show was reviewed on the 5th February 2025 at the Charing Cross Theatre, London where it runs until the 16th March 2025. Tickets can be purchased here: Charing Cross Theatre
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit: Pamela Raith
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