As I write, Joy Behar asks Kamala Harris tasteful if anxious questions about the election/ COVID/ and Joe Biden’s plans on her daytime show The View. Her respect is through the roof, though you know, after years of experience, she has her doubts about the role of government on the planet. Wearing a blue sweater embroidered with the words, “I’m speaking,” she’s a lot to reckon with; with her, nobody’s going to mess. It’s a leap to think of her as a playwright, and now, we must. In five tidbits she wrote, an entertainment to benefit Guild Hall this week titled, A Totally Disrespectful Evening of Virtual Short Plays, she puts her views to dramatic effect. An A-list of her pals—Lorraine Bracco, Dylan McDermott, Robert Klein, Brenda Vaccaro, Chris Bauer, to name a few– mouth off in a variety of situations, culminating in a one-woman tour de force: Behar herself as a shoplifter, offers a step by step how-to, explaining the orgasm as you exit the store, and stating, “If Trump gets re-elected in November, who knows what crimes I might commit.”

Some are simple family stories: one has parents concerned their son will move in with Squeaky Fromm, played with the utter weirdness you would expect from Rachel Dratch. Another takes place in Miami, Florida in 1959. Lenny Bruce, on the prowl for a good meal, visits a couple, Norman (Bob Balaban) and Pearl (Susie Essman). As the comedian lavishes wild compliments on Pearl, she eats them up as only Essman can. He even offers to show his schmuck. But all ends well. Leaving, he brings the couple closer (in Zoom): “Now, let’s tango,” says Norman sweetly, for a happy ending. Now, to November.