Play review – “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” by Robert Sherwood

I was under the impression this play centred around Abe’s debates with Douglas but while that is provides a scene its only one in a bio of America’s most famous president, covering early romance with Ann Rutledge to heading off to the White House. Its got a huge cast and Raymond Massey must have been brilliant in the role. Lincoln comes across as engaging and very human – the biggest surprise is his marriage with Mary Todd is shown to be not fulfilling, more a political arrangement which brought Todd nor Lincoln no happiness.