Theater

Charles Busch back in drag in desperate real estate ploy

He was a femme fatale in “Die Mommie, Die!” and a schizoid teenager in “Psycho Beach Party.” But Charles Busch’s new character is more demure: This time he plays Jimmy, a female impersonator — of Marilyn Monroe, Pearl Bailey and more — who deplores labels.

“Please don’t call me a drag queen,” he begs his wealthy friend Adriana (Cynthia Harris). “I’m a ­celebrity tribute artist.”

Such distinctions aside, Busch’s Jimmy makes a captivating woman in “The Tribute Artist.” This comes in handy, as the plot of this slight but fun effort revolves around his impersonating Adriana after her unexpected death from natural causes.

Since she died without a will, Jimmy and his best friend, a failing real estate agent named Rita (Julie Halston), hope to hide Adriana’s death until her townhouse is sold and they split the proceeds.

Obstacles arrive in the form of Adriana’s niece, Christina (Mary Bacon), who expects to inherit the apartment, and her transgender teenage daughter, Rachel (Keira Keeley), now known as Oliver. And then there’s Rodney (Jonathan Walker), Adriana’s much younger former lover. And it doesn’t take long for him to figure out that the beautifully dressed older woman isn’t who she says she is.

“The Tribute Artist” has many amusing moments, even if it does drag at times. Its funniest scene has Jimmy delivering a series of comic references to old movies that Rita’s forced to explain to those too young to have seen them.

Under the expert direction by longtime Busch collaborator Carl Andress, the ensemble shines. Gorgeously costumed and wigged, Busch is touchingly sweet, and Halston’s perfectly timed readings are hilarious.

A minor effort, to be sure. But even a lesser Busch is more.