I saw at two weeks ago and I was blown away. It's been over thirty years since their regional edu-tainment show Free to be Friends went off the air, but it sounds as fresh as it did in 1972. And now, Betty and Joan are prepping for a run in the

How did Betty and Joan come to be and how have they evolved with time?
Julie : Sue and I wanted to write a show together, and I suggested doing a take-off of with Carole and Paula, having grown up in New York with fond memories of that show. I also used to listen to the /Free To Be...You
and Me/ album constantly as a little girl, and thought it would be funny to send up that whole folk-singing progressive "you can be whatever you want to be" 70's children's show genre, with the intention of teaching
the wrong lessons in a confusing way--- ideally, against a backdrop of mushrooms. We ordered a VHS copy of an episode from and realized how low-budget of a show it was, and how all we needed to do with those characters was paint them in broader strokes...and make them open lesbians.

As for how they've evolved, I'd say that Joan has revealed herself to be more of an addict--at first we knew she had food issues, but as we kept writing, we discovered her addition to cat tranquilizers. She's also got deep-rooted issues with her mom, which sheds light on why she's such an awful mother: she abandoned her kids and husband for this self-important life of edu-tainment and cause-based pageantry. As for Betty, I'd say the longer we've been doing the characters, the more audiences realize what a trapped fawn Betty is. I don't think she's really gay. I think she's very suggestible, and terrified of Joan, who's taken the place of the cult leader she rescued her from. I don't think either character is particularly fond of children, though Betty would have more to say to one.

Sue : I've gotten a lot better at the guitar; Betty, only marginally so.

Are there particular aspects of Betty and Joan's personalities and histories that are inspired by real people and events? How much of Betty and Joan comes from Sue and Julie?
Julie : If you watch /The Magic Garden/, you'll see that Paula is the more dominating one, and obviously Jewish, whereas Carole tries harder to please, and is maybe a touch dim. Both are very dismissive to the Squirrel puppet on the show, Sherlock, which we took to town. But the dynamic of our relationship is based more closely on that of Dorothy and Rose on the Golden Girls, I think.

I will say that Sue is not dumb, but, like Betty, she does like men. I think Joan is what would happen to me if things go horribly wrong. I do fear that this character speaks to my limited range: I'm from Scarsdale; Joan is from Great Neck. I, too, like men, by the way.

Sue : Betty is based on Betty White as Rose in the Golden Girls. But I (Sue) have moments of absolute dumbness too, so I can really relate to that way of being. I lock in to her purity of focus and her enthusiasm in the face of horror. And, I once visited a cult in West Virginia where they made their own ghee (clarified butter). They also had large statues of Krishna and Buddha there. If I had accidentally eaten any of their drug-laden foods, I might be Betty now. Except all of the macrame references in the show would be clarified butter references. And I would have had to travel back in time to the 70s. Well, let's be glad that didn't happen! I don't know how to make a time machine.

How do you think Betty and Joan would fare in today's world?
Julie : Joan would be working for Weight Watchers as a leader, yelling at people and calling it encouragement. I picture Betty as some sort of bullshit healer, like somebody who gives color therapy or drums on a bongo while you talk about your dad. I'm sure they would still be together. I understand that Lesbians, like Penguins, mate for life.

Sue : I see Betty as the first woman to accidentally sail around the world solo. She'd still be out there today, unable to dismount this carousel Earth!

Have Carole and Paula from The Magic Garden expressed any interest in Free to Be Friends?
Julie: I don't think they've heard of it, and I don't think that's a bad thing. I would love it if they came to the show and dug it, but who knows if they would be offended...or litigious. So we've held off on an invitation.

Sue: I think it might offend them. I can't get a read on their sense of humor, but if it were me and someone skewered my earnest way of living, I would throw down. Luckily enough for everyone, I have no earnest way of living.

What are your own experiences with Decoupage?
Julie: I'm not very crafty, I'm afraid, though I appreciate a good craft, and find the package design for Mod Podge to be an inspiration.

Sue: I always get that confused with décolletage. If you wear a good bra, a plunging neckline can be a serious hit at a party. However, it is not appropriate for every occasion. It really depends on your boobs and the rest of your outfit. If you asked about a COLLAGE, though, I actually enjoy making collages with my free time. But I dislike the smell of glue, so I often use tape. I don't show them to anyone.

What's next for Betty and Joan, as well as Sue and Julie?
Julie: We're working on a Free To Be Friends album, with Joe McGinty from The Loser's Lounge, so look for that soon. We just launched freetobefriends.com , so check out whatever other crap we have brewing over there. After the Fringe, I'm going to be playing the role of "Abortion Girl" in
Les Freres Corbusier's production of /Hell House/ at St. Ann's Warehouse, which opens October 1. I have some other projects too, including hosting a variety show with Jackie Clarke, which I hear is big, acting in and I just finished work on this , which I wrote with cartoonist Michael Kupperman. Oh, and I'm rehearsing a number from "Cabaret" right now, which I'm going to do at Michelle Collins' show on August 17th @ Mo Pitkin's. I'm working with a choreographer and everything: I'm really excited.

Sue: I continue to do Improv at UCB with 1985 in Harold night. I play guitar and sometimes drums around town with my band, , and we are making a video of a Stickerbook original and as well as writing a stage show for our bad selves. I am also co-writing a musical based on a music countdown show. There might be some music in it. I will probably also make a few collages.