The World’s a Stage in ‘Light Up the Sky’

In his 1948 comedy “Light Up the Sky,” Moss Hart set out to depict the foibles and eccentricities of theater people from a wry, “business as usual” perspective rooted in his experience as a hugely successful playwright.

Those foibles and eccentricities still ring true in the superbly cast Actors Co-Op revival at the Crossley Theatre. Amid the neurotic scrambling on the opening night of a new play’s Boston tryout, the feuds between the prima donna star (Elaine Welton Hill) and her hypersensitive director (Alan Johnson), the financial insecurities of the producer’s wife (Francesca Casale) and the dry commentary from a veteran writer (Richard Jones) make for lively humor. And a few truths about human nature as well--especially as they discover how much they need each other in the supremely collaborative venture of the theater.

Director Robin Strand wrings delicious layers of irony from the hysteria, particularly in the third act, where the wily producer (Gus Corrado) feigns integrity to win back the moralistic but naive first-time playwright (Pepper Sweeney). As the star’s pragmatic, seen-it-all mother, Dena Dietrich supplies the common-sense anchor.

Nevertheless, as in many plays about stage life, Hart’s affinity for his subject can become so in-jokey and self-referentially precious it’s hard at times to sympathize with his egotistic artistes, fine performances and staging notwithstanding.

* “Light Up the Sky,” Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends June 9. $15. (213) 964-3586. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.