Those who are used to seeing Charles Busch in drag (and that’s most everyone) might not recognize him in this movie, his directorial debut (he also co-wrote), as a male nurse dressed all in white and with a long red ponytail. His character, Jan, is a live-in nurse to Mrs. A (Polly Bergen), who is dying and spending her last summer vacation at the shore with her grandson, 13-year-old Gil (P.J. Verhoest). Openly gay Jan sees Gil’s budding homosexuality and takes him under his wing, trying to counsel him as the young boy embarks on an unknown future with relatives in Florida. Leading man Busch aside, the strongest performances come from supporting characters, most notably pitch-perfect Bergen as the ailing grandmother, the great Dana Ivey as the housekeeper and Busch cronies Julie Halston and Carl Andress as a pair of hilarious hairdressers.

Shelf Talk: A Very Serious Person is a tough sell no matter how you slice it. With no theatrical release or major buzz beyond the New York market, it’s likely to get lost on shelves. Of course, Busch’s significant fan base will flock to the title, but they could be disappointed to find their idol in a very non-Psycho Beach Party role. Though sweet and well-acted, this movie will need a push to make it visible among the non-Busch crowd.