The Tale of the Allergist's Wife and Other Plays: The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Psycho Beach Party, The Lady in Questio

by Charles Busch

Charles Busch is renowned for weaving popular culture, wicked camp humor, and biting social satire into an unusual and uproarious theatrical signature that has earned him the Outer Critics' John Gassner Award for Playwrighting and a Drama Desk Award for Best Play nomination. Of his latest play, The New York Times has written, "Uproarious ... wall-to-wall laughs ... Mr. Busch has swum straight into the mainstream and stays comfortably afloat there." Busch is the author of such plays as Vampire Lesbians of Sodom -- one of the longest-running plays in Off-Broadway history -- and Psycho Beach Party, a cross between Gidget and Spellbound. After a successful Off-Broadway run at New York City's Manhattan Theater Club, Busch moves to Broadway with The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, a hilarious comedy about a self-absorbed Upper West Side doctor's wife whose life is devoted to mornings at the Whitney, afternoons at the Museum of Modern Art, and evenings at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her world is shaken and transformed when a childhood friend makes an unexpected visit.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, Humor, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2000

Reviews

[Creolecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Charles Busch for treating me to your wonderful style and time-tripping to the 20s for Vampire Lesbians in Sodom; the 1940s for The Lady in Question (great Joan Crawford look, by the way); and the 1950s for Red Scare on Sunset, which was my favorite. Now, when are you coming back to L.A.? Or better still, further south? We would love to see ya!

[Marybeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows the wonderful range and wit of Busch, from the early work (Vampire Lesbians of Sodom) to the award-nominated Broadway show "The Allergist's Wife." Lots of laughs, references to the glam gals of stage and screen and double-entrendres. Great writing and entertainment.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful and completely hilarious.

[mj manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute screwball comedies but titular play is an absolute standout. He somehow made a poignant commentary via absurdist comedy.

[MB Shakespeare · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plays were interesting, somewhat funny, and an overall nice read.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of plays. Very enjoyable read!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ran sound for a production of Psycho Beach Party once, and even though it was one of the worst experiences of my life, the play itself is absolutely killer. I recommend that you see Busch's plays before you just sit down and read them. They can seem rather dull on the page, but they explode like a gender smashing Molotov cocktail on stage.

[msleighm · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems odd to say so, however I feel like my life is richer for having read this collection of plays. My favorite is Red Scare on Sunset with The Tale of the Allergist's Wife coming in a close second. I saw a production of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife almost 10 years ago, that led me to buy this anthology. I'm so glad I did. These plays should be produced more often in local theater.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE these crazy plays.

[David Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Charles Busch and this collection of plays is a real treat.

[Courtney Sheets · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the plays in this volume a million times. Busch's work feeds my soul as an aspiring playwright and novelist and speaks to my art as an actress

[Krista]

*note to self: I only read Allergist's Wife

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read "The Tale of the Allergist's wife" and not the other plays. I was thinking of auditioning for
this play in a local community theater, but after reading it decided not to.