Theater: “Ibsen’s Ghosts”starring Charles Busch

Charles Busch writes the best posts on social media—and the funniest plays on the planet. This time, he sets his sights on Scandinavia, with “Ibsen’s Ghosts: An Irresponsible Biographical Fantasy.”

The play (which has nothing to do with “Ghosts,” written by Herr Henrik in 1882) stars Busch as Ibsen’s widow Susanna Thoreson Ibsen. She’s looking to cash in on some correspondence he’s left behind. Ibsen’s publisher George Elstad (Christopher Borg) finds them dull, but we soon discover that he’d really prefer to publish a juicier, more lucrative story: a diary written by a woman named Hanna Solberg (Jennifer Van Dyck) who claims she, not Susanna, is the inspiration for Nora in “A Doll’s House.”

What to do, what to do? The solution presents itself with the sudden appearance of Wolf Dahlquist (Thomas Gibson), a virile young sailor and the illegitimate son of Ibsen’s Irish girlfriend. Susanna is smitten with Wolf, and after a night of passionate lovemaking, she convinces Wolf to steal Hannah’s diary, thereby quashing all chances of its publication and the ruining of her reputation.

Adding to this Norwegian madhouse are Greta the maid (Jen Cody) who milks a few laughs by shamelessly stomping around the stage, Judy Kaye as Susanna’s pompous step-mother, and the Rat Lady (also played by Borg, in drag) who has a gift for luring rodents out of household with a pitch pipe.

Charles Busch’s camp style and funny grimaces are peerless. But Van Dyck nearly steals the show from under Busch’s Norwegian high heels as Hannah, the temperamental rival who speaks six languages, dresses in trousers, and brandishes a bow and arrow.

Fabulous book punctuated by jokes that have you laughing till your stomach aches and your back is thrown out. What could be better? A first-row seat like we had, for starters. “Ibsen’s Ghost,” through April 14 at 59 e 59. Act now or you’re lutefisk, people.

Like this review? Follow me at “What Does Aug Think?” at acsntn.substack.com. Thank you!