But things are not always what they seem, according to directory Gina Kleesattel, who brings the Douglas Carter Beane comedy “As Bees in Honey Drown” to the Ovation Theatre Company stage this weekend.

“It poses the question ‘What would you do for fame and money?’ in a really fun way,” Kleesattel said. “It throws the question right out there. Would you compromose? Would you change your art?”

Although it’s a straight-ahead comedy, the director said that it moves at a musical theater pace. “I normally do musicals,” said Kleesattel, who teaches at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and

Performing Arts, directing that school’s annual musical, “but when I read this script several years ago, I knew that I had to do it, but needed to find the right venue.”

So when she approached Ovation about doing a show, this was on her short list, and ironically enough, had been slated for an Ovation production several years ago.

“This is one of the first shows we chose for our 2000-2001 season, but we were new and the show was new and we couldn’t get the rights,” says Ovation artistic director Joe Stollenwerk.

Corinne Mohlenhoff, a resident of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, plays Alexa.

“She’s a phenomenal actress,” Kleesattel said, “but on top of that she’s a really great person. She works so hard that she is the perfect example of the dedicated actress.”

“As Bees in Honey Drown” also features Brian Berendts as the hot shot gay writer who finds himself romantically drawn to Alexa’s allure. Local actors Mark Femia, Amy Harpring Joe Caesar and Tamara Young round out the cast.

how to go

THE NAME: Ovation Theatre Company presents “As Bees in Honey Drown” by Douglas Carter Beane.

THE LOCATION: 5/3 Bank Theatre, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut, Cincinnati.

THE HOURS: 8 p.m. 21-22, 27-29; 2 p.m. July 23.

THE TAB: $18; $16 seniors; $14 students.

THE PHONE: (513) 621-2787; www.cincinnatiovation.com.

This story originally appeared in the Go! arts/entertainments supplement to the JournalNews, July 21, 2006).