“Filth is in the mind of the beholder!” screeches Madame, the foul-mouthed, wacky alter-ego of puppeteer Joe Kovacs who just completed a run at Don't Tell Mama. The lethally raucous show left much of the audience aghast and the rest holding their sides as they roared with laughter at this uber-campy show based on the original act created by Wayland Flowers that appeared at local clubs in the 70's and 80's. This was before they became regular guests on television shows from the era ultimately replacing the late Paul Lynde on “Hollywood Squares” in the center square.

Flowers died of AIDS in 1988 and, seemingly, that was the last of Madame and his other saucy puppet creations that earned him national attention and a cult-like following who packed every personal appearance to wallow in this lunatic creation by the ever bitchy, ever creative mind of Flowers. Recently, Kovacs & Madame began popping up at special events to the delight of audiences.

Apparently, the estate of Flowers gave Kovacs rights to use the original Madame and revive what was once the popular act that had its roots at the old Grand Finale on West 70^th Street (now a sports bar.) Incidentally, that same club had the likes of soon to be stars including Chita Rivera who performed her first night club act there. Soon, “Wayland & Madame” became a mainstay on the club circuit on both coasts. Today, everything new is old again and momentum is building and the show is getting a lot of attention (especially with gay audiences) as evidenced by the SRO crowds.

Bolting into the room like a tornado from the rear and charging up the aisle with Madame greeting unsuspecting audience members, Kovas manipulates Madame with skill, spewing a bevy of prickly comments or mindless non-sequiturs that are outrageously funny or just plain silly. It all makes for a well-oiled hour of irreverent crass and sass by a master entertainer. A name-dropping diatribe bashing celebrities was a high spot: “Take Joan Rivers – her face is starting to look like a commemorative plate!” Scanning the audience, Madame snaps, “I can smell the Botox from here boys!” Addressing Kovacs, Madame spews, “The only thing that's F.... up your life is that you are in it!” Then, in a rare moment of sanity, Kovacs sings a sweet ditty to Madame; a parody of “Mama, A Rainbow” from 1970's “ Minnie's Boys” (Grossman-Hacady.)

The laugh meter dips a bit with the introduction of “Crazy Mary” – another of Flowers' creations. Basically, this is a loony escapee from a psycho ward somewhere wearing a helmet with flashing lights and a penchant for toilet jokes that just don't quite hit the mark.

Wearing a head microphone (something Flowers never had,), Kovacs's hands have more freedom to “move” Madame about as he does a potent job of entertaining. Some of the jokes are “oldies” and the act might benefit from more current material ripped from Page Six. While Kovacs is clean cut and handsome, he manages to offer more than an over the top hour of Madame's manic madness that is a welcome comeback of this old broad who makes Mae West look like Mother Theresa.

Joe Kovacs and Madame will return for long run at the end of February.