Bette Midler and Hollywood super-agent Sue Mengers have many things in common: both were self-invented, and both are marked by a large dollop of sass and brass, a mean wit and a knack for uninhibited, earthy language. So Midler was the obvious choice to play Mengers in John Logan's solo play. But Midler is not content to merely display her own qualities, producing instead a richly layered portrait, deftly directed by Joe Mantello. Logan invites us to an afternoon with Mengers at her lavish Beverly Hills home, circa 1981. She's ensconced on a sofa, in a voluminous blue caftan, her long blond hair swinging, with cigarettes, telephone, booze and plenty of grass on hand. She tells us about her birth in Germany, her family's emigration to the United States to escape the Nazis and her determined rise to power as the agent who represented everybody from Barbra Streisand and Gene Hackman to Cher and Nick Nolte. She's outrageous, gossipy, contemptuous of anyone who doesn't meet her standards, imperious (pressing an audience member into service to fetch her drinks), likable and, ultimately, sad as she realizes her glory days are over, and the world has passed her by. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood; Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Dec. 22. (310) 208-5454, geffenplayhouse.com.

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: Dec. 3. Continues through Dec. 21, 2013

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