Theater : Theater Review : Dueling Divas : ‘Ladies of the Camellias’ recalls the colorful era of Bernhardt and Duse.

In June 1897, two famous actresses--Sarah Bernhardt of France and Eleonora Duse of Italy--alternated in performing the lead in Alexandre Dumas fils’ “The Lady of the Camellias” at Bernhardt’s theater in Paris. Dumas’ play would be the foundation for Verdi’s opera “La Traviata.”

In Lillian Garrett-Groag’s “The Ladies of the Camellias” at the Long Beach Studio Theatre, the playwright hasn’t simply set up a cat fight between the luminous Bernhardt (Susan E. Taylor) and the somber, pallid Duse (Elyse Ashton).

The hissing of competing egos is masked by practiced civility. Director Robert G. Leigh’s flawed but funny revival of the play remains true to the spirit of this amusing, non-musical trifle.

Mixing historical pretext with some outlandish imaginings, Garrett-Groag comments humorously on theater, theatrical people and the conflicts between art and politics.

Yet there is nothing stodgy in these musings. The dueling divas are threatened by their own vanity, each other, a young upstart (Adriane Oliver), changing theatrical conventions and an anarchist (Mark Schuliger) carrying a bomb.

Under Leigh’s direction, the beginning is a bit rough and the action could be tightened, but once the two respective leading men, Bernhardt’s Worms (Jack Messenger) and Duse’s Ando (Juan Ramirez), enter, it becomes an enjoyable romp. Messenger and Ramirez shine a little brighter than the two Camilles.

Donna Fristsche’s exquisite costume design almost makes up for that, making the two ladies contrast like a dove and a raven. Taylor is gorgeously outfitted in white with feather trim and a feather fan hanging from a gold chain, while Ashton is stylishly somber in black.

There are some weak links in the cast. Reed Boyer as Dumas drones his lines and is more irritating than sympathetic as the playwright who seldom hears his words as they were written--or in the order he put them down. Schuliger as the terrorist lacks the spark that might make us take him seriously.

Garrett-Groag’s script has its problems, tending to wander, but at the center of this production are four winning performances and some funny lines, well-played.

BE THERE

“The Ladies of the Camellias,” Studio Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; next Sunday and Oct. 3, 2 p.m. Ends Oct. 9. $12-$15. (562) 494-1616. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.