In the intimate realm, the play depicts Bernhardt in a romantic as well as professional liaison with writer Edmond Rostand, played by Jason Butler Harner with enough intensity to emotionally match the dynamism of the star. Bernhardt is determined to play Hamlet, which she did in real life, shocking critics and the public by daring to play a man. There is much witty humor around the decision, rehearsals and her pressuring Rostand to write a revision of Shakespeare’s play with the concept of removing the poetry. The battle over the issue is detracting from Rostand’s writing of “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Bernhardt is adamant about being tired of playing Camille in “La Dame aux Camilias.” A line in which she asserted her desire to break out beyond the customary place of women received a burst of applause on the night I attended. McTeer’s Bernhardt comes across as a force of nature, living beyond her financial means, loving to bask in the spotlight and enchant those in her circle, while hiding whatever inner doubts she may have.

In addition to her interaction with her theater pros, we see the complicated relationship with her son Maurice (Nick Westrate). There also is a dramatic confrontation between Rostand’s wife, Rosamond (Ito Aghayere), and Bernhardt. Much humor marks the performance by Matthew Saldivar as Alphonse Mucha, the artist who struggles to design the right poster for a female Hamlet. Dylan Baker is excellent and amusing as veteran actor Constant Coquelin. There is cozy interplay with Louis (a fine Tony Carlin), a leading critic who is so skeptical about Bernhardt playing Hamlet that he warns it can ruin her career.