Colchester Fringe Festival 2026
Hail Mary, None of the Grace
Mary Kennedy
Genre: Autobiography, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Solo Performance, Solo Show
Venue: Three Wise Monkeys
Festival: Colchester Fringe Festival
Low Down
Hail Mary, None of the Grace is a darkly comedic memoir of Irish Catholic Guilt. It is a captivating and personal storytelling which will resonate with many audiences.
Review
Mary Kennedy’s mother has died. “Yes one of those Kennedys, third cousins twice removed; all of the tragedy, none of the money” In this dark comedy, Kennedy lays her Irish mother’s memory to rest. Before she does, she reviews her upbringing and her own challenges in parenthood. Exploring Irish Catholic guilt, generational trauma, and the breaking of the cycle of abuse, Kennedy has crafted a fine memoir of her journey to become the woman she is today. Kennedy is an excellent storyteller and one which thoroughly held my attention.
The highlights of the story are in Kennedy evaluating her Catholic upbringing. When she assumes the role of her family members, the writing and dialogue shine. The story of Kennedy losing her virginity for the first time, and the aftermath of guilt and lack of sexual education, is one of the stronger stories in the show. Here, the themes Kennedy has interwoven through the story come to full fruition. Hail Mary, None of the Grace is about how we free ourselves from generations of abuse and find our own path towards grace away from institutionalized religion.
Mary Kennedy is a dry but touching comedian. A good comparator to this work is Angela’s Ashes. Hail Mary, None of the Grace follows the same trail of darkness and grief but with an overriding humour and light spirit. It is a style of comedy wherein you’re not always sure if you should laugh or cry. That is both to the benefit and hindrance of the show at times. Perhaps because we had a smaller audience at our performance, there was a sense amongst the audience of an uncertainty of what is and is not a joke. At time, the material gets particularly dark, especially when familial abuse comes into the picture. These moments left me with whiplash because of how quickly they are brought up and set aside. With more guidance and humour through that darkness, the material will be far stronger. That said, the quality and heart of the show make up for the less funny sections. And even still, there were a hearty amount of belly laughs throughout the whole piece.
The show, while of great quality, is also a familiar one. The “fringe parent funeral” genre is a trope which has been done to… well death. While this framing is tired, this show has enough personality that it makes this trope feel somewhat unique. Kennedy has a deep understanding of how her upbringing has affected her and has an important story to tell. That said, I wish it was framed in a more unique way.
Overall, Hail Mary, None of the Grace is a touching memoir and a fine piece of storytelling. It has a powerful message about parenting and persevering over familial trauma. Kennedy is a endearing performer. Mary may have none of the grace, but she had the love of this audience.
