Manhattan Theatre Club artistic director Lynne Meadow helms the world premiere of Charles Busch's new, New Yorky play, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, opening Feb. 29 at MTC's Stage II.
Linda Lavin, Michele Lee and Tony Roberts star in the comedy about a wealthy Upper West Sider, a distracted husband, a cranky old mother and the arrival of a familiar face. Or, as the official description reads, it's a play in which "mid-life malaise becomes a good excuse for sexual and psychological liberation instigated by a strangely familiar visitor."
Anil Kumar and Shirl Bernheim are also featured. Previews began Feb. 8, across the lobby from the heat, jazz and noise of the MTC Stage I production of The Wild Party (which opened Feb. 24).
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Busch is the popular drag performer and playwright whose work includes Psycho Beach Party, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, The Green Heart and Die! Mommy! Die! Lee was the strong-willed Karen on TV's "Knots Landing," appeared in the film, "How to Succeed Without Really Trying," and sang the songs of Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields in Broadway's Seesaw (earning a Tony Award nomination).
Lavin starred in TV's "Alice," but is also remembered for Broadway's Broadway Bound (she won the Best Actress Tony Award for it) and the most recent revival of Gypsy. She is slated to repeat her Broadway Bound role of Kate Jerome, and play the same character in Brighton Beach Memoirs, when the works are revived for Broadway in 2001.
Roberts appeared in Play It Again Sam, Sugar and Victor/Victoria on Broadway, and Woody Allen's film, "Annie Hall."
Bernheim appeared in the world premiere of Old Lady's Guide to Survival at The Humana Festival of New American Plays (and later Off-Broadway), and as Miss Lynch in Grease on Broadway and on tour. She is veteran of many American regional theatres.
Kumar made his Broadway debut in The Public Theater's Macbeth and was Dilip in the American premiere of Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink.
Designers are Santo Loquasto (set), Ann Roth (costumes), Christopher Akerlind (lighting) and Bruce Ellman (sound).
Tickets are $50. MTC Stage I and Stage II are at 131 W. 55th Street at City Center in New York City. Call (212) 581-1212 for information, or visit the MTC website at http://www.mtc-nyc.org.
