It seems clear that inveterate New Yorker Marjorie Taub, the depressive wife in question in the hit Broadway play, The Tale of Allergist's Wife, will make an appearance in Los Angeles, but sources close to the New York production and the planned tour say the nature of her summer stay at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. and her life on the road beyond it isn't yet clear.
Insiders told Playbill On-Line the Tony Award-nominated Charles Busch comedy has been doing so well lately on Broadway that it may well continue to run for months at the Barrymore Theatre, meaning perhaps a second company would form to tour, perhaps beginning in L.A. Another scenario has the Broadway company ending happily in the black (it has already played more than 500 performances and made its dough back for producers) and putting original cast members into the June 22-Aug. 11 L.A. run, launching a tour.
No plans have been announced for the Broadway future — it's still an open-ended run at the Barrymore Theatre. The week of Feb. 18-24 was hot at the Barrymore Theatre box office, earning a gross of $337,834, representing 85.6 percent of capacity. Some are saying the show has legs in New York at least through summer.
Details for the developing tour have not yet been announced, but managers of touring houses know the show is available for 2002-2003, and the road prospects are good for the audience-friendly show. Single tickets are not yet on sale for L.A. Visit the Ahmanson Theatre website at www.taperahmanson.com.
* Poor Marjorie Taub, the depressive Upper West Side wife of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, has been in a funk for more than a year now.
Good thing she's in a comedy.
The Charles Busch play celebrated one year at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre Nov. 2, 2001, and met another milestone — 500 performances — at the Jan. 16 matinee. Valerie Harper is the wife, Tony Roberts is the allergist, Shirl Bernheim is Marjorie's cranky mother, Anil Kumar is the doorman and Michele Lee is the childhood friend who reinvigorates Marjorie's world.
The Tony Award-nominated comedy began as a hit Off Broadway in the 1999-2000 season at Manhattan Theatre Club with everyone but Harper. Linda Lavin created the role. Lynne Meadow directs, and will direct the tour. The show has made its investment back, as did the MTC staging of Proof on Broadway (that hit continues at the Walter Kerr).
Producers are Manhattan Theatre Club, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Daryl Roth, Stuart Thompson and Douglas S. Cramer.
The New Yorky comedy was nominated for three 2001 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Performances on Broadway are 8 PM Tuesday-Saturday, 2 PM Wednesday and Saturday, 3 PM Sunday. Tickets range $30-$70. Call (212) 239-6200 for information. The Barrymore is at 243 W. 47th Street.
