Leading Lady: A Memoir

by Charles Busch

Aunt Lil encouraged my theatrical yearnings by sending me to Saturday acting classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan. At the first class, the teacher, a rather grand veteran stage actress, taught us how to make an entrance down a staircase wearing a gown with a long train without ever looking down at our feet—a skill that has proved invaluable in my career in the theater.

Fortunately, I did still say yes to some terrific opportunities, such as the chance to play the title role in a summer stock tour of Auntie Mame. To be on the safe side, at my cardiology checkup, I asked Dr. Erica Jones if she thought I had the endurance to undertake the physically demanding role of Mame. Not in the least showbiz savvy, she leaned in with a concerned look. “Will you be lifting anything heavy?” To which I replied, “Well, I’ll be carrying the plot.”