Judging by the display of Stormtroopers greeting theatre-goers at the Meadow Brook on opening night, one might actually think Legends! is an actual play about bringing “Star Wars: The Play” to Broadway. But this relatively obscure 1986 comedy by James Kirkwood, perhaps better known for penning the book to the musical “A Chorus Line,” is really a play about the war between two stars.

When small-time theater producer Martin Klemmer gets hold of a new script called “Star Wars: The Play,” he knows he’s got a hit on his hand. All he needs is to sign a pair of big name stars, and he’ll have a sure success… Yeah, right! See, Klemmer is the kind of guy whose credits include shows called “Craps.” No one takes the man seriously, especially not Robert Redford who Klemmer is doing his damndest to sign to star in “Star Wars: The Play,” alongside legendary film divas Sylvia Glenn and Leatrice Monsee. Even though both women could use a career boost, it’s going to take a lot of convincing—themselves and each other—that “Star Wars: The Play” is the right vehicle to force them to put aside their differences.

While Legends! is no stellar piece of theater, it is a lot of fun. Much of the credit goes to director Travis W. Walter for his casting of the show. As Klemmer, the lean and lanky Anthony Guest is more bumbling fool than sleazeball, possessing both charm and comic chops. His physicality, in particular, keeps the audience entertained in the second act, when a bank of pay telephones literally ties the actor up in knots, and an ingested sweet treat causes quite a surprise reaction. As Glenn and Monsee, Ruth Crawford and Mary Gant are a terrific comic couple to rival the likes of Mary Martin and Carol Channing, for whom the roles were originally written. These women perfectly complement each other: one wears a dark wig, the other a light; one is tall, the other shorter; one is thin, the other more plump. They possess the right amount of give and take, and so graciously share the stage, one gets a sense that Crawford and Gant truly respect and enjoying working with each other, no matter that their characters may tell us to the contrary.

Of course they do have the help of a strong supporting cast. As Aretha Thomas, the housekeeper of the Park Avenue apartment where much of the action takes place (beautifully designed and decorated by Brian Kessler, straight out of TV’s “Dynasty”), Sheila Alyce Slaughter is the sassy voice of reason, keeping the two older women in check, if not out of trouble. Much of the humor evoked from Slaughter’s scenes comes from Aretha’s impish attitude and the pranks she plays on her counterparts. When Tyrick Wiltez Jones arrives at the door, all decked out in top hat and tails, and announces himself as Boom-Boom Johnson… Look out! If the word “Chippendales” isn’t enough of a throw-back to a 1980s “Phil Donahue” episode to indicate what’s about the follow, then wait for the boom-box Jones is carrying to start blasting “Freeway of Love” by the other Aretha. Rounding out the cast is Matt Siadak, as the starstruck policeman called in to investigate when the dueling divas’ antics get out of hand. Much of Siadack’s dialogue is typical of when a young person meets an elder (“My grandmother was a big fan”), meant to jab home just how ancient the fading film stars have become. But Siadak pulls it off with an “aw-shucks” attitude, and his mustache adds enough to the 1980s-realness of Corey Collins’s costume designs that we forgive him.

If Joan Collins and Linda Evans were ever to reunite and take Legends! on the road, they’d look totally ’80s awesome sporting these sparkly, poufy-sleeved silver and gold creations. Oh, wait! Looks like they did, back in 2006-2007 for a 30-city North American tour. Ah, well! Assuming you probably missed that production, why not check out the one currently playing at Meadow Brook? It’s got Ruth Crawford and Mary Gant, who are just as good—if not better.

And be sure to stay for the curtain call, when you’ll finally get your chance to see “Star Wars: The Play” on stage.

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