The Ladies of the Camellias by Lillian Groag

The Dramatists Play Service, Inc. presents The Ladies of the Camellias by Lillian Groag Revised Edition Acting Edition A Comedy for a cast of 7 men and 3 women. An hilarious farce about an imagined meeting in Paris, 1897, between the famous theater divas Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse. The two actresses—who were the biggest and most temperamental stars of their day—were scheduled to perform back-to-back productions of the play, The Lady of the Camellias, by Alexandre Dumas. Duse's production will be performing in Bernhardt's theater, and the two women are in their own dressing rooms at the theater, though they have yet to meet. The members of both acting companies expect huge fireworks between the two grand dames, and do what they can to avoid being in the way. Into this tense situation comes Ivan, a young Russian anarchist who threatens to blow up everyone in the theater—especially the two divas—unless his comrades are released from prison. Bernhardt and Duse must meet and greet each other for the first time as they are taken hostage by the armed Ivan, yet remain the ultimate theater professionals. Drama Theatre Actors American Literature Literary BKNK