Judith of Bethulia

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

I had the pleasure of seeing this tonight and completely loved it. It was better than most things on Broadway this season, and bested only in the humor department by One Man, Two Guvnors.

Jen Cody plays a 15 year old (!) Hebrew prostitute named Naomi Beckerman who is trying to reform from her wayward ways. Mary Testa, in an hysterical turn, plays Agra, the maid servant to the title character. There's not enough scenery in the Tri-State area for these two to share a stage, but somehow they manage.

Then there's Charles Busch. He's Judith, the Mae West defender and protector of the Jewish people. He dons some of the most fantastic costumes and wigs I've seen in Lord knows how long. I guess it's not news to anyone that he knows how to land a line, but he is in such top form here I couldn't get over it. Example line: Testa tells Busch, "Naomi has penetrated the Assyrian camp!" He replies, "What's that? Naomi? Penetration? Camp?"

I believe this type of theater exists for one reason only, and that's to bring joy to an audience. I don't know the man personally, but it's apparent that Busch does these shows out of love. Here's a theatergoer who will always be grateful for his efforts!

[nasty_khakis]

Seeing this on Friday and can. not. wait.

[After Eight]

I found it quite a disappointment. A few laughs via anachronisms, but overall, flat, forced, and tired. When the biggest laughs come from endless citations of Oscar Hammerstein lyrics, you know that inspiration is in short supply.

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

Alas, After Eight. I fear we are doomed to always disagree. At least you stayed true to form and found little enjoyment on your theater outing. Your consistency is oddly comforting.

nasty_khakis- Enjoy! I truly wish I had time to go see it again.

[After Eight]

^

Sorry to discomfit you, but I found a great deal of enjoyment at the theatre last evening.

And I'll hazard to guess that I felt as much if not more enjoyment at Forty Carats, Any Wednesday, Mary, Mary et al. than you have ever felt in the theatre.

[newintown]

It's a hilarious show, a great evening in the theatre. Busch is one of the few skilled comediennes around today. Cody and Testa manage to keep up, doing their funniest work to date (that I've seen).

The whole thing feels like real downtown, not that fake stuff that the suburbs think is downtown (like Rent).

[henrikegerman]

What did you see last night, After Eight? Do those three really represent your idea of a great comedy? Or are you, respectfully, being facetious?

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

newintown- Yes it definitely has that downtown feel. That's part of what I meant by Busch doing this completely out of love. And yet, as downtown as it feels, I would give those costumes a Tony nom in a heartbeat.

[After Eight]

H,

What I saw was The Sound of Music benefit.

And why would you be surprised that I or anyone else would enjoy those shows? They were delightful all, and loved by many.

Did you even see them?

And what's with the snotty attitude?

[songanddanceman2]

Charles has fast become a good friend since my company has premièred a few of his shows here in the UK (Die, Mommie, Die and Psycho Beach Party)and im crushed i wont get over to see this (unless it moves Off Broadway like the Divine Sister did for a commercial run, but i don't think Charles want to).

I agree with Newintown that Busch is one hell of a performer, his comedy always hits the mark. I love that he stays true to his downtown roots, even after a hit like Tale of the Allergists Wife on Broadway.

[Kad]

I have heard there are no plans whatsoever for any sort of an extension for this.

[henrikegerman]

After Eight, I wasn't being snotty and it's not that I don't think anyone would genuinely enjoy the shows you listed. It's just that I wasn't sure if you were being serious or not and wanted to know. A lot of people say things sarcastically on line and it's difficult to know whether someone is being sincere or not. The reason I thought you might be being facetious is because what you wrote remind me of the line in Butterflies Are Free about Eileen Heckart not liking anything since The Sound of Music. As for me, I've seen parts of all the movie versions of those plays, but that's all. I admit I wasn't impressed, but I have no opinion of their merit based on only seeing film versions, much less based on only seeing part of the movies, and didn't mean my comment as a value judgment, only as a point of clarification because I was interested in what you were expressing in your post. Your mistakenly interpreted my comments as being sarcastic is a perfect example of how social networking posts can be misinterpreted, which is why I asked for clarification.

Thank you

thelateorratherlater

[Roscoe]

I saw JUDITH OF BETHULIA recently and enjoyed a good deal of it. Some gorgeous moments of real old-school Theater In Limbo hilarity. I can't quite put it at the level of such classics as PSYCHO BEACH PARTY or LADY IN QUESTION or DIVINE SISTER -- the story seems to wander a bit. There's too much attention paid to a couple of supporting characters.

One serious problem though was with Charles Busch's performance. His diction, at the performance I attended, was absolutely terrible. Way too many lines were quite simply unintelligible, delivered with a Roz-Russellian speed but with zero clarity. No disrespect to Mr. Busch, who has given me some of the best laughs I've ever experienced in a theater, nobody can make a grand entrance in full movie-diva drag like the Divine Charles. I feel kind of churlish in bringing it up, but it got to be a serious annoyance.

[After Eight]

^

Sorry to say, I found that to be the case as well.

[Vespertine1228]

I enjoyed this show when I saw it last week, but it's not one of his better pieces. The satire is unfocused, and I agree that there are too many characters.

I also found Busch difficult to understand, but even more so difficult to hear. I'm in my 20s so I don't have bad hearing or anything, but it was a struggle. Maybe he was sick?

Charles Busch is a treasure, but I don't think this one has commercial possibilities like The Divine Sister.

[nasty_khakis]

LOVED. Yes, it's not focused, and no, it shouldn't transfer, but it is what it is. A play for the sheer fun of it.

I thought Jen Cody was a little unfocused and kept imagining funnier/age (more) inappropriate actresses in her role.

Mary Testa is divine in a role CLEARLY written for Julie Halston. She brings more than enough Mary to make it her own.

Am I wrong in thinking the "beefcakes" are too old as well? Don't get me wrong, they have great bodies but if you're going for thankless men in underwear with one line each wouldn't you go go-go boy? Just being picky about the eye candy.

"How's your ass, Agra?" may now be in my top Busch lines of all time.

[Skip2]

It seemed to me like Busch is having some physical problems. He had a slight tremor in his hands.

And I agree...very little humor here.

[once a month]

My 6th and so far, my favorite show of 2012. Just sheer fun. Honestly, I understood every word Busch and cast uttered. That Eunich was one strange man! Loved the rapid-fire witty dialogue, loved the beefcake, adored Busch's costumes, loved his song. Loved the entire production.

It cheered me up wholeheartedly, and made me laugh and smile until my cheeks hurt. I needed that, after getting bad personal health news the night before...JUDITH OF BETHULIA was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. Sorry it's over...I only wish Charles Busch could live forever.

[followspot]

Thoroughly enjoyed it — certainly not as crisp as Busch's usual plays, but a silly goof with a fun cast of pros. As has been mentioned, if this does live on, Busch should reconsider his dialect choice (Mae West channeling Ruth Gordon, as far as I could tell — or vice versa), which was too often unintelligible. The costumes alone were worth the price of admission. Fun show.