#60: Mary, Mary and the too-witty woman with Jordan Schildcrout

In the midst of your "Merry, Merry Christmas," let me interest you in a little "Mary, Mary" Broadway! Don't feel bad if you've never heard of this play -- I certainly hadn't -- but like so many other shows I've covered, there are SO many crazy and interesting stories related to this surprising entry in the pantheon of long running productions that reveal fascinating aspects of Broadway history.

And the perfect person to bring a near-bottomless depth of knowledge to the subject of plays on Broadway is, of course, Jordan Schildcrout, author of "In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays." As we get to talking about this play, Jordan lays out the context for its unexpected success and we explicate how it ends up being weirdly both pro- and anti-feminist. We also spend some time ruminating on the career of Barbara Bel Geddes, known to most from "Dallas," but actually rose to fame initially for originating Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," a role Elizabeth Taylor would go on to own thanks to the movie adaptation.

This "Mary, Mary" isn't so contrary a subject for the holidays as, in its own oddly traditional way, it reinforces conservative values and the sanctity of marriage. But at the same time, we can look back at it and be thankful that we truly have moved on past when women weren't "allowed" to be both pretty and witty.

Be sure to check out our website, ChasingPhantom.net, for more information and related video clips. For "Mary, Mary," the whole movie is actually out there on YouTube. Happy holidays and see you in the new year!