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The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife
By Charles Busch
Directed by Kurt Johns
At Apple Tree Theatre
595 Elm Place
Highland Park, IL
Call 847-432-4335, tickets $35 - $45
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 PM
Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time 2 hrs, 10 min with intermission
Through March 19, 2006
Chicago’s finest shine in side-splitting comedy
Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park once more offers a cute choice, Charles Busch’s wacky boulevard comedy The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. This terrific comedy is part NYC shtick with hints of Woody Allen and Neil Simon and part fable that delivers its smart humor through a host of eccentric characters. I liked this show and so will you.
The show boasts four of Chicago’s leading performers: Paula Scrofano, John Reeger, Renee Matthews and Hollis Resnik with fine supporting work from Vishal Patel. Director Kurt Johns brilliantly staged the comedy utilizing Richard and Jacqueline Penrod’s exquisite Upper West Side apartment set to reach to all three sides of Apple Tree’s intimate stage. We see four comedy pros deliver the shows fertile humor with perfectly timed jokes, punch lines and rejoinders.
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We meet Marjorie (Paula Scrofano in a fabulous emotionally draining performance) who is stalled in a midlife crisis that leaves her stuck in a depressed state. She feels emotionally empty as she realizes that all her philanthropic endeavors and cultural efforts have left her feeling as a worthlessly mediocre cultural poseur. With her vain but successful retired allergist husband (John Reeger in a nicely underplayed turn) who supports and loves her; Marjorie wallows in depression. Paula Scrofano demonstrates her emotional range as she kvetches from raging neurotic to confident to self-absorbed snob.
Renee Matthews, as the foul-mouthed mother of Marjorie, was a hoot as she nailed one zinger after another as she laments about her bowl movements and exudes her negativity about life and her daughter Marjorie. Matthews sure is a master at dead-pan comedy.
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When Lee (Hollis Resnik, marvelous as usual), a stranger from Marjorie’s childhood, mysteriously appears, Marjorie comes alive as the two share NYC’s cultural. Is Lee a phony who name drops constantly and tells tales of meeting and influencing world leaders, intellectuals and pop cultural icons or is she a mythical figure? Judge for your self. It fits since in many fables a character gets ‘stuck’ and a stranger appears to show the way. If Lee is an angel, she sure is a horny one who seduces both Marjorie and Ira into a ménage-a-trois in a hilarious scene. As the funny play progresses, we start doubting Lee’s intentions. Only the wary Frieda suspects Lee’s insincerity but only for a while. The plot twists work and the resolution finds only Marjorie changed as the vague ending leaves open questions.
The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife is a well written social satire that pokes fun at many pop cultural motifs and beliefs. The outstanding performances from all four actors makes this show a treat. You’ll laugh and appreciate the depth of Chicago talent led my Paula Scrofano who once more demonstrates why she is Chicago’s most talented leading lady.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed February 26, 2006
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