Our American Queen review – ambition and allegiance on the eve of 1864 US election

Bridewell theatre, London
Thomas Klingenstein’s account of the formidable Kate Chase’s political plotting during the civil war has dense dialogue and a limited scope

‘Sometimes she understands things better than I,” says Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of the treasury, Salmon P Chase, about his politically savvy, social heavyweight of a daughter, Kate.

Kate Chase has a lot on her plate. She is helping Salmon prepare to challenge Lincoln in the 1864 elections­ – managing alliances and optics, and planning a party to announce his campaign, plus a lucrative marriage to finance it, despite her deep connection with Lincoln’s secretary, John Hay.