By Adam Hetrick
17 Jun 2009

Charles Busch

Charles Busch stars as the imposing Lady Bracknell in the Los Angeles Theatre Works engagement of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, beginning June 17.

Under the direction of Michael Hackett, Earnest runs through June 21 at the Skirball Cultural Center. The limited run will be recorded and broadcast on L.A.T.W.'s nationally syndicated radio theatre series, "The Play's the Thing."

In addition to Busch, the cast features Emily Bergl, Neil Dickson, Jill Gascoine, James Marsters, Christopher Neame, Matthew Wolf and Sarah Zimmerman.

Press notes for the LATW production read: "Jack and Algernon are best friends, who, in order to impress their beloveds, pretend that their names are 'Ernest,' a name that both ladies believe confers magical qualities on the possessor. The two young men lead busy double lives in the highest of style: creating false identities, avoiding family, visiting imaginary invalids and (equally imaginary) wayward brothers. But now their carefully constructed 'alternate universe' is crumbling at the edges, and they will have to decide whether being 'Ernest' or 'earnest' will get them what they want."

Charles Busch is both a celebrated playwright and performer. His play The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which began life at the Manhattan Theatre Club, later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. He wrote the book for the Broadway mounting of Taboo, and he also penned the screenplays for and starred in the films "Die, Mommie, Die" and "Psycho Beach Party." His noted plays include The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset and the long-running Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Busch's recent Off-Broadway appearances include The Third Story and Die, Mommie, Die. He made his directorial film debut with "A Very Serious Person."

For tickets, priced $20-$48, to any of "The Play's the Thing" productions at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, call the L.A. Theatre Works box office at (310) 827-0889.

For more information visit latw.org.