You don't believe me? Stop by and see "When a Diva Dreams," it's current attraction.

Garry Garrison's play, about the troubles dogging "Diva's," a New Orleans night club, does go on too long. Right now, it's nearly three hours. But director James Lemon has made it an entertaining night, thanks to his gifted cast.

They start out by singing some old chestnuts. There's Saunja Butler, doing a nifty rendition of "At Last." Hassie Davis delighting with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." And Kim Anderson, as the club's owner, scoring with both "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do" and "The Glory of Love."

Then we're backstage, and find that everyone doesn't quite get along as well as we might have thought. But Garrison shows us that when push comes to shove, it also comes to love. Too bad he takes so long in telling us.

Even so, the production is a success because there are so many wiring performances up there. Those aforementioned ladies aren't merely singers; they're fine actresses, too. Butler is brave as a working mother who must leave the kids at home, but constantly checks on them by phone. Davis deftly plays a man-hungry - nay, man-starved - motor-mouth who's still holding a grudge against Pat Boone for dropping her from his act. ("Did you know he wears a girdle?")

Given that the club is called "Diva's," you may question Anderson's suitability for the role. She doesn't have that wild, over-the-top manner that you associate with such a star. But she does have a second-act scene where she must roar out her heart to her estranged sister (the statuesque and accomplished Shakira Miller), and she rises to the occasion.

Also on hand - thank the Lord - is Reginald James, who gave one of the best performances of last season in the Globe's production of "Ruthy." There he played the brooding, stubborn, atheistic son of a preacher man. Here, he shows he's just as capable of playing a completely different character, the club's simple-minded janitor. Garrison, invoking the great Shakespearean tradition, shows us that the fool isn't so foolish at all. So, as the evening continues, James expertly peels off layer after layer to display the character's diplomacy and sensitivity. Excellent.

Another "Ruthy" alumnus is Michele Rae, who's charming as the club's stage manager who only opens her mail once a month. That way, with the multitude of free samples and coupons, "it feels like Christmas."

See if you don't laugh at Toni Stanton as Marty, one of Garrison's most fetching creations. She's a performance artist who recites awfully abstract poetry mixed with some Helen Reddy lyrics, punctuated by drums, drumsticks and a spatula. In addition, she does some reasonably bizarre with a sausage. It's a stunning debut.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if African Globe could keep together all these terrific artists, not only to do new plays, but also some black classics like "A Raisin in the Sun," "Blues for Mr. Charlie," and "Mule Bone"? With actors like this in its arsenal, the company would be up to most any challenge.