Alexa Vere de Vere is part Sally Bowles, part Holly Golightly, a woman who has invented herself completely, from her international travel itinerary right down to her highfalutin name.

In "As Bees In Honey Drown", a brilliant and brittle comedy by Douglas Carter Beane at Triangle Productions, the unraveling of the real Alexa gives upcoming gay writer Evan Wyler a dose of the price of quick fame in the dizzying art world of New York.

Although there are some slow moments, the production, directed by Don Horn, has a lot going for it, mainly Daria O'Neill as Alexa.

A local radio host, O'Neill radiates the magnetism needed for Alexa, and her exotic good looks and intelligent delivery also help shape the character.

Alexa is a predator, a sort of queen bee with a devastating agenda concerning "all those fresh young desperate faces," pop singers, artists, writers, and others who would be instant starts in the firmament.

When Wyler, played by Spencer Conway, falls under her spell and into her trap, the whole ball of intrigue unravels, reminding us that Machiavelli is alive and well in the 21st century.

The play admonishes, "Be careful what you wish for: It may come true, but in ways you least expect." It also casts a wary eye on the New York art scene, where often the packaging of art is more important than what's in the frame.

Conway, who stepped into the role late in rehearsals, is a good match for O'Neill.

He's a hunk with an agenda--to cultivate fame and fortune, and Conway plays the role with appealing earnestness. But some of the scenes between the two become static, for which I blame the direction.

Alexa's long speeches cry out for more movement, more energy. Beane's script is rife with wit and intelligence, so brimming with clever language, of which Alexa has the lion's share, that it requires pacing and variety.

But the seeds of excellence are there. The fine supporting cast includes C.W. Jensen, Timeca Briggs, and Mieko Mitchell-Berke and features Scott Weimer in nicely underplayed multiple roles, including that of Mike, Wyler's love interest and Alexa's ex-roommate.