The Tale of the Allergist's Wife

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In his first play written for a mainstream audience, Busch explores the Upper West Side milieu of aspiring intellectual and middle-aged upper class matron Marjorie Taub, who lives comfortably with her doctor husband Ira in an expensively furnished condo near Zabar's and spends her days and evenings pursuing culture at various museums and the theatre. Her ongoing effort to improve her mind and soul has brought Marjorie to the conclusion she never will be more than mediocre, a feeling enhanced by her elderly mother's constant complaints about her shortcomings and her husband's altruistic dedication to serving the needs of the homeless. Following an emotional outburst in a Disney Store resulting in considerable breakage, Marjorie retires to the safety of her home to wallow in a mid-life crisis. Unexpectedly invading her depression is flamboyant childhood friend Lee who, much like The Man Who Came to Dinner, becomes entrenched in the Taub household as a seemingly permanent guest, not only drawing Marjorie out of her dark mood, but impacting her marriage as well.

Critical acclaim for the original Manhattan Theatre Club production prompted a move to Broadway. After 25 previews, it opened on November 2 2000 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 777 performances. The original cast, directed by Lynne Meadow, included Linda Lavin as Marjorie, Tony Roberts as Ira, and Michele Lee as Lee. Later in the run, Lavin was replaced first by Valerie Harper and then by Rhea Perlman, while Richard Kind and Marilu Henner assumed the roles of Ira and Lee.

Although Barbra Streisand announced interest in directing and starring in a film version, to date nothing has come of the project.

The plays contains this line: "And I hope you have pleasant dreams while you're sleeping on mattresses filled with Jewish hair!" This line, spoken by the Frieda character, is designed to obtain laughs. Charles Busch explained in a New York Times interview published October 29, 2000, that the Frieda character is a composite of his Aunt Belle and Aunt Lillian. Busch said: “It’s wild to hear the audience roaring with laughter at things Aunt Belle said that left us shocked and appalled. When my sister told her she was planning to take a boat trip down the Rhine, Aunt Belle said, ‘I hope you can sleep on pillows filled with Jewish hair.’"

Nominations

*Tony Award for Best Play
*Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (Lavin)
*Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Lee)
*Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play
*Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (Lavin)

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=12550 Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?_r=2&res=9A00E6DF1339F932A35750C0A9669C8B63&oref=slogin&oref=login New York Times review]
* [http://thattheatresite.com/library/showpages/show_72.html "Tale of the Allergist's Wife" at ThatTheatreSite]