The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, the hit Charles Busch comedy that started at Off-Broadway's Manhattan Theatre Club in spring 2000 and found success at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre that fall, will close Sept. 15, Variety reported late Aug. 1.
The New Yorky comedy about a depressed Upper West Side wife first starred Linda Lavin, who was Tony Award-nominated for the performance. Valerie Harper later took on the part and is playing Los Angeles and San Francisco dates with the show prior to the Sept. 10 launch of the national tour in Denver. Original 2000 cast members Michele Lee, Tony Roberts, Shirl Bernheim and Anil Kumar also play the West Coast dates.
Meanwhile, on Broadway, Rhea Perlman plays the title role, with Marilu Henner as the sexy childhood friend who shakes up her world. Richard Kind is the allergist hubby.
Business for the Broadway staging has slumped this summer, but the show had already recouped its investment. By close, it will have played 770 regular performances and 32 previews.
Variety reported Nora Ephron's Imaginary Friends will move into the Barrymore later this season.