THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE Opens 1/10 at The J

What do you need to be happy? A big life? Great art? Or just a good suppository? These are the critical, albeit comedic, questions explored in "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," opening Saturday, Jan. 10 and running through Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Jewish Community Center, "The J."

The play, praised for its passion and humor, features Marjorie Taub, a middle-aged Upper West Side Doctor's wife, who is engulfed in a life crisis of Medea-like proportions. She tries to lose herself in a world of art galleries, foreign films and avant-garde theater, but nothing shakes her lethargy. Marjorie's spirits suddenly soar when Lee Green, her fascinating and somewhat mysterious childhood friend, appears on her doorstep and turns her world upside down.

"Everyone has seen the cartoon where some poor, desperate person has climbed a mountain to ask a wise man sitting at the top 'What is the meaning of life?' says director Barb Nichols. "Usually, some glib answer is given and the poor, desperate person is no better off than before. Our heroine, Marjorie, is also searching for meaning and answers in her life. The search, as Marjorie discovers, should be a joyful journey and the answers one seeks could be found by looking up and connecting with the person next to you."

Join Marjorie on her journey and start the New Year off with a laugh. The show runs January 10, 15 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and January 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. at the White Theatre on the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park. Tickets can be purchased at www.jcckc.org/boxoffice or by calling 913-327-8054.