Joan Collins and Linda Evans in Legends

The following is from AfterEllen/Elton contributing writer Lydia Marcus.

Memories of Dynasty are practically gay wired into my memory so it was with great excitement that I finally got to see Joan Collins and Linda Evans in the flesh as they reunited on stage in Legends at the Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles. Starting when I was eleven when the show began in 1981, I watched it religiously until it ended in 1989. I was allowed to stay up past my normal bedtime to watch. I'd cuddle up with my Mom in her bed and take in all the theatrics.

My Mom was truly part gay man and drag queen (she eyed small chandeliers as potential earrings) and watching Dynasty with her was a bonding experience that literally brought me my diva and camp education. And I will never forget the moment I first laid eyes on Collins as she waltzed onto the screen as Alexis Carrington Colby, immediately becoming my first grand diva to which all future divas would be compared.

In Legends, Collins and Evans play two long faded screen stars and former rivals who are sought to be cast opposite one another in a Broadway bound play. Collins ("Sylvia Glenn") is known for her oeuvre of playing prostitutes and bad girls while Evan ("Leatrice Monsee") specialized in saintly types. (Sound familiar?) They have a history of bad blood (stolen husbands/on set pranks) and cinematic competition (Best Actress vs. Best Supporting Actress Oscars).

Sylvia and Leatrice revisit their past and see if it's possible for them to really work together again and hopefully revitalize their careers and bank accounts. Fans of the pair will be duly satisfied that the old school Dynasty chemistry is still very much alive and that both actresses look pretty divine (the ritzy eye candy of Nolan Miller's costumes sure help).

Sure the play has its' sour notes (hammy acting from Joe Farrell as a theatrical producer), but it also benefits from the sassy stage presence of "Weeds'" Tonye Patano as Sylvia's faux maid, and a stripping sojourn by hot, muscled actor Will Holman as a Chippendale's messenger. The best scene is a catfight (of course!) complete with wig-pulling (that unfortunately is done off-stage).

Collins shows a really delicious comedic range and even does a spot on impersonation of Ethel Merman. Evans, who's never acted onstage before, is a natural — she has the same comforting, relaxed presence onstage that she always had as Krystle Carrington on Dynasty. The audience skewed mostly older straight couples (I'm sure I was one of the youngest people there) plus a smattering of younger to middle-aged gay guys, plus and a few of their fag hag female friends.

After the show my companion and I staked out the stage door and got our Playbills signed by the stars. Evans (who's super tall and very friendly) stuck around for awhile outside the theater happily signing autographs and posing for photos, but Collins stayed true to her grand dame image as she acted like it was a bother for her to sign programs and mingle with fans. Then her much younger, tall, dark and handsome husband Percy Gibson (one of Legends' producers) quickly whisked her away to the couple's awaiting Rolls Royce. Though it would have been nice if Collins had held a little court with fans, experiencing her divalicious retreat was as much fun as the show itself!

Legendsthecomedy.com & broadwayla.org & joancollins.net.