CAPE MAY – Kicking off the summer season for Cape May Stage is “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” a comical social satire about passion and obsession. Marjorie, the wife of philanthropic allergist Dr. V. Ira Taub, is immersed in a mid-life crisis when her therapist dies suddenly. Her days are spent full of self-pity and self-doubt until her spirits become renewed when a mesmerizing and worldly friend from her childhood appears on her doorstep. Unfortunately, the friend quickly wears out her welcome and becomes an unwanted and menacing guest.
Award-winning director, producer, actor and producing artistic director of Cape May Stage, Roy Steinberg, will direct the sophisticated comedy by Charles Busch, author of “The Lady in Question,” “Red Scare on Sunset” and “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom,” which ran for five years and is among the longest-running plays in Off-Broadway history. Steinberg says that he chose “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” because it fit into the season of exploring “passion,” and is hilariously funny. Cape May audiences will find the play resonates with special meaning.
Playing Marjorie Taub, a depressed, frustrated and utterly dissatisfied woman of leisure, is Barbara Weetman. Recent theater credits include “Hand to God,” “Hamlet” and the first national tour of “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Returning to Cape May Stage, having appeared in the 2016 production of “Disgraced,” is Mark Geller as Ira Taub, a recently retired doctor with a hero complex. Geller has been seen in the Off- Broadway productions of “Cloud 9,” “Nora,” “The Dybbuk,” “Box Office Poison,” “Bomber Jackets” and “Adjoining Trances.”
Playing Lee, a world-traveled name-dropper that quickly fills the void in Marjorie’s life, is Jan Leigh Herndon. Herndon a true triple threat that has graced the Broadway stage in “A Chorus Line,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Anything Goes.” Regionally, Herndon received an Orlando Broadway World Award nomination for her role in “Dames at Sea.”
Playing Frieda, a Jewish mother with a theatric flare and a fondness for colon talk, is Andrea McCullough. McCullough has performed in the NY/National Tour of “Jeffrey,” “Singin’ In The Rain” and “The Winter’s Tale,” and in 2015 received an Off-Broadway Alliance Award nomination for her role in “Ruthless.” Rounding out the cast is Jeff Gorcyca, playing Mohammed, a well-read doorman with a soft spot for Marjorie. Gorcyca is an actor, singer and voiceover artist based in New York City. His Off-Broadway credits include “Madeline’s Christmas” and “Dead For Breakfast.”
The New York Times calls the play “a window rattling comedy of mid-life malaise…it earns its wall to wall laughs.” “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” runs June 28 through Aug. 4. There will be a Best Value Night on July 7, a talkback on July 16 and a Pay-What-You-Wish Performance on July 21. The show runs Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. For ticket information, visit capemaystage.org or call the box office at (609) 770-8311.