CAN THEY ACT THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS ONE?

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

IN THE theatrical sub-genre known as the backstage panic play (which I'll henceforward call the BPP because, heck, I've just invented the term), a bunch of stagy types spend copious amounts of time getting very worked up because there's a show that must go on. And something - oh heavens! - is preventing said show from on going. And since in the world of a BPP nothing short of the Apocalypse is actually more important than putting on a show, panic ensues.

Now it's entirely possible that Lillian Groag never intended to write a BPP when she stumbled upon the rather ingenious source of inspiration for her ``The Ladies of the Camellias.'' But a 60-carat, double-barreled BPP is exactly what she has directed in the production's new version of ``Camellias'' at the Colony Theatre. And not to the production's benefit.

The idea is certainly a winner: Stage rivals Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse, in Paris to play the same role - different engagements - at the same theater are held hostage on the set by a bomb-toting anarchist. The two roles are tastily - if rather obviously - written, and the menagerie of co-stars, authors, stage hands et al. who get caught up in the madness are juicy parts as well. At the Colony, Groag employs fine classically trained actors that include Louis Lotorto, Julia Coffey, Mark Bramhall and Tony Abatemarco. Strong players all.

Watching these men and women trying to kick-start the humor engine is more than a little depressing. Groag's production is ribald where it should be smart, zany where it would benefit from restraint. There are laughs, certainly, but they often feel beaten out of you rather than honestly earned.

This is perplexing because Groag (herself a talented actress who also wrote the play ``The Magic Fire'') is no hack. With ``Camellias,'' she is treating her own material like it should be a warm-up act for ``Noises Off'' or ``Lend Me a Tenor,'' an approach that really does not do ``Camellias'' justice.

Anyway, the playwright's premise - based on actual events - has Signora Duse (played by Melinda Peterson) undertaking the tragic role in ``The Lady of the Camellia'' during her first French tour at exactly the same time that Madame Bernhardt (Victoria Carroll) is in the same place playing the same part. Trouble is already brewing when a hopeful actress (Coffey) playing a tiny role quits before the evening's performance even begins. Madame also keeps a cheetah backstage because, well, because that's the kind of thing theatrical divas do.

No sooner do the two rivals actually meet than a desperate young Russian named Ivan (Triney Sandoval) begins holding them prisoner. Since neither the Signora nor Madame are especially into politics, both figure they can somehow perform their way out of danger. Ivan isn't having this because he's actually ... well, best not to spoil it.

To the extent they're playing characters stuck in their own egotistical cosmos, Peterson and Carroll are both convincing and, quite often, funny. Neither actress is acting in the same play as the other or as anybody else in the cast, but that may be Groag's point. The play allows both actresses ample opportunity to cut loose. On rare occasions, another character is permitted to steal the spotlight back for a few minutes.

The elements of fear and terror barely feel real - as indeed they probably shouldn't, and the farcical elements are rather brutal. What a relief it is to have Bramhall (a stalwart from A Noise Within's company) as playwright Alexander Dumas and Abatemarco as the trusty domestic, Benoit, to calm things down even occasionally.

Production values are all impressive, most notably Tom Buderwitz's set (heavy on the flowers, of course) and A. Jeffrey Schoenberg period-appropriate costumes.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

THE LADIES OF THE CAMELLIAS - Two and one half stars

Where: Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank.

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Sept. 19.

Tickets: $26 to $36. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: Let's put on a show! Let's panic! Let's panic and then put on a show!

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Triney Sandoval, seated, has the gun, and those pointing the finger at him are Julia Coffey, left, Marcelo Tubert, Melinda Peterson and Victoria Carroll in ``The Ladies of the Camellias.''