If you’re unfamiliar with the work of Mary Mac, then where have you been? From her stage roles in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and La Cage Aux Folles to supporting Bianca Del Rio on tour, Mac has firmly established herself as one of the finest performers around. Now, in her debut Edinburgh Fringe show, Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress, she takes centre stage to showcase exactly why she has earned that reputation.
An hour barely feels long enough for this comedy-cabaret masterclass. Mary wins the audience over almost instantly. There’s something so warm and effortless about her presence that you can’t help but settle in enjoy the performance. Mac is an absolute powerhouse, delivering outstanding vocals that make it easy to see why she continues to tour the world.
It’s not just the singing that keeps the audience hooked. We’re also treated to hilarious stories from her time working on cruise ships, adding plenty of personality and mischief to the evening. Accompanied by a live pianist, it’s the perfect blend of big vocals, sharp comedy and larger-than-life storytelling.
Her hilarious characterisations of Cher singing ABBA and Susan Boyle have the audience in fits of laughter, but it’s Mary’s audience interaction where the comedy really starts to spiral. Dealing with a heckler in the only way she knows how, her comebacks are as quick as they are unexpected, delivered with that unmistakable Scottish smile and mischievous grin.
Alongside the audience interaction are the stories that make you feel like you’re getting to know the woman behind the character. Her story about the only time she has performed Rihanna is one that will stay with me, although following another story, I’m not sure I’ll ever look at haggis quite the same way again. Nothing feels forced or rehearsed. Mary simply knows how to read a room, and some of the funniest moments come from those spontaneous exchanges with the audience.
With her infectious personality and natural stage presence, Mary makes this Fringe debut feel anything but like a first outing. In fact, Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress feels like a show that deserves to tour far beyond Edinburgh. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Mary Mac show without the iconic Mary Mac medley. The songs blend into one another so smoothly that you ‘barely’ notice where one ends and the other begins.
It’s a joyous finale to a show packed with powerhouse vocals, sharp comedy and plenty of Scottish charm. After 16 years in the business, the Tartan Songstress shows no signs of slowing down, and with a well-deserved standing ovation, it’s clear the Edinburgh audience agrees. You’ll all be singing her name!
★★★★★
Gifted ticket in exchange for an honest review.