Charles
Busch
Overview
- Produced by:
- Primary Stages in association with George Street Playhouse and by special arrangement with Daryl Roth and Ted Snowdon in association with Jamie deRoy
- Dates:
- March 02 - April 14, 2024
- Run Time:
- 2 Hours, 0 Minute
- Intermission:
- Yes, included in run time.
- Theater:
- Showing in Theater
- Tickets:
- $66 - $131 (incl. a $6 fee) | 59E59 Members: $50
Show Info
Primary Stages
in association with George Street Playhouse
and by special arrangement with
Daryl Roth
Ted Snowdon
in association with Jamie deRoy
presents
IBSEN'S GHOST
AN IRRESPONSIBLE BIOGRAPHICAL FANTASY
Written by and starring Charles Busch
Directed by Carl Andress
With Christopher Borg, Jen Cody, Thomas Gibson, Kate Hampton, Judy Kaye, and Jennifer Van Dyck
The play Ibsen never wrote - but with more laughs and a happy ending!
Shortly after the death of celebrated playwright Henrik Ibsen, his widow Suzannah receives word that her husband’s former protégée is in town peddling a libelous diary exposing the playwright’s misdeeds. Enlisting help from her sharp-witted stepmother, Ibsen’s long-lost illegitimate son, a servant girl with a wayward pelvis, and an enigmatic rodent exterminator known as the Rat Wife, Suzannah sets out to preserve her husband’s legacy by any means necessary.
Written by and starring the legendary Charles Busch, Ibsen's Ghost tells a tall (and hilarious) tale of the toll a great man’s ghost takes on the women at the soul of his work.
Lead support for Ibsen’s Ghost is provided by the Garfield Family Fund in memory of Johanna Garfield, The A.R. Gurney Theater Fund, and The Andrew Leynse Legacy Project at Primary Stages.
Additional production support provided by Jim Kierstead.
Major season support provided by the Estate of Anne Bernstein, The Howard Gilman Foundation, the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, The Shubert Foundation,The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
A post-performance talkback with artists from Ibsen's Ghost led by Primary Stages' Artistic Director Erin Daley will be held after the performance on Tuesday, April 2.
Photo Caption: Judy Kaye, Charles Busch, and Christopher Borg in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Thomas Gibson and Charles Busch in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Thomas Gibson, Christopher Borg, and Charles Busch in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Charles Busch, Jennifer Van Dyck, and Judy Kaye in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Charles Busch in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Christopher Borg, Jen Cody, and Judy Kaye in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Jennifer Van Dyck and Jen Cody in IBSEN's GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Christopher Borg and Charles Busch in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Photo Caption: Christopher Borg, Charles Busch, and Judy Kaye in IBSEN'S GHOST
Photo: James Leynse
Producing Company
Primary Stages
Primary Stages is dedicated to inspiring, supporting, producing, and sharing the art of playwriting. We operate on the strongly held belief that the future of American theater relies on nurturing playwrights and giving them the support they need to fully realize their vision. Primary Stages is the Resident Off Broadway Theater Company at 59E59 Theaters.
Read more at: www.primarystages.org
Reviews
★★★★ "CHARLES BUSCH TRIUMPHS!" – New York Stage Review
★★★★ "Extremely funny, well-acted, well written work" – The Front Row Center
"A treasure trove of tonal absurdity fills the air" – The New York Times
"Busch succeeds in making a meal out of these lines, biting into every syllable with the voraciousness of a famished cougar. Just a flick of his eyes or a twitch of his lips is enough to send the audience into gales of laughter." – TheaterMania
"It all adds up to one sidesplitting show delivered by a top-notch cast."
"A highly entertaining theatrical farce that's as smart as it is funny, with stellar performances that will keep you laughing"
"The laugh-out-loud parody is directed by long-time collaborator Carl Andress, with a spot-on understanding and razor-sharp staging of Busch's legendary over-the-top comedic style." – DC Theater Arts
"An ensemble piece with a superb group of comic actors – all with excellent comic timing" – NewsNotesDance
"A triumphant example of fast-paced, energized high-camp acting" – Theater Pizzazz
"A master class in comic technique"
"Ibsen's Ghost is a joy ride all the way... What more could you ask for?" – Talkin' Broadway
"Delectably witty, often naughty romp" – The New York Sun
"A cast of top-shelf actors who never make a misstep"
"Each of [Gregory Gale's] many costumes is a breathtaking work of art" – Nite Life Exchange
"Charming and funny"
"Ibsen's Ghost is a strong entry in the long list of Busch's literate, affectionately mocking comedies" – OffOffOnline
"Nobody makes an entrance like Charles Busch"
"The laughs are explosive"
"Judy Kaye, a one-woman fashion parade thanks to Gregory Gale's gorgeous creations, delivers her lines in rich, rolling cadences that underline their absurdity." – Lighting and Sound America