The title of Rachel Crothers' 1937 play "Susan and God" says it all.

When spoiled American socialite Susan Trexel finds religion during a trip abroad, her miraculous conversion and resulting do-gooder efforts are really all about Susan, with God taking a very distant back seat.

Although the play turns 70 this year, it's getting its San Diego premiere this summer at Lamb's Players Theatre in Coronado. The play's melodramatic script may be one reason for its obscurity, but another very real problem is finding an actress worthy of the lead role (the formidable Joan Crawford starred as Susan in the 1940 film version).

Fortunately, Lamb's has found a glittering jewel in actress Sarah Zimmerman, whose luminous performance as Susan casts a bright glow over the entire production. From the moment Zimmerman breezes onto the stage in the first act, she dazzles everyone around her, both onstage and in the audience.

Set somewhere in the monied New York countryside in 1937, "Susan and God" is the story of a group of well-heeled, idle friends who've gathered at the summer home of bohemian multi-divorcee Irene Burroughs and her latest live-in lover, Michael, to welcome home their beautiful young friend, Susan, from a vacation in England.

When she arrives, Susan regales the group with the story of her sudden conversion to a faddish, feel-good religion proffered by an Aimee Semple McPherson-type revivalist.

It's quickly clear that Susan's newfound faith is just a passing fad, donned at whim as a way of drawing attention to herself, an atmosphere she craves. She gives unsolicited and judgmental spiritual guidance to all of her friends but ignores her own failings as both a wife -- to her devoted and sweet-natured (but alcoholic) husband, Barrie -- and as a mother -- to her socially awkward and woefully neglected preteen daughter Blossom, who has spent most of her life at boarding schools.

Trapped by her own hypocritical preachiness about Christian forgiveness, Susan reluctantly agrees to spend the summer with Barrie and Blossom, on the condition that if Barrie drinks, he'll grant her an uncontested divorce.

As time passes, Barrie blooms and Blossom blossoms, but Susan secretly pines for freedom from her family to focus on her new religious cause. She prays for Barrie's downfall and finds little time for her needy daughter. Can Susan find the real meaning of Christianity before it's too late? The play's overdramatic and moralistic finale ties things up too neatly, but still satisfies thanks to Robert Smyth's clear, swift direction and fine casting

As written, Susan is hardly a sympathetic character. In fact, she's the kind of juicy, evil villainess role that actresses like Crawford, Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck would've scratched each other's eyes out for. But somehow, Zimmerman makes her likable. She seems clueless about her insensitivity, chipper in her selfishness, witty with her insults and so pretty and incandescent, you can't take you eyes off of her.

Zimmerman gets strong support from the Lamb's ensemble, especially from KB Mercer as the outspoken, wise and wounded Irene, and precious, winsome Kelli Plaisted as Blossom, who transforms before our eyes (under the spell of what she believes to be her mother's love).

Lance Arthur Smith is earnest and honest as Susan's drunkard husband, Barrie. Cynthia Gerber is wistful as Charlotte, the tomboyish townie who secretly longs for Barrie. David Cochran Heath is reserved as Irene's lover, Michael. Doren Elias and Colleen Kollar are truthfully mismatched as aging millionaire Hutchins "Stubbie" Stubbs and his new young wife, ex-showgirl Leonora. And Cris O'Bryon completes the cast with class and panache as actor Clyde Rochester, who secretly pines for Leonora, and musicalizes the show with his effortlessly graceful piano playing and singing.

Jeanne Reith's period costumes are gorgeous, particularly the women's full-length gowns. Nick Fouch's set design, accented minimally with a few set pieces by Mike Buckley, is simple but effective and never hinders the flow of the story, which runs two hours, 30 minutes, with intermission, but feels shorter.

Despite its rather foreboding title, "Susan and God" has a lot of laughs and they're smartly delivered in this sparkling production. There is a not too subtle message about faith and hope in the end, but it's Susan -- as wonderfully depicted onstage by Zimmerman -- whom you'll remember long afterward.

"Susan and God"

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; through Sept. 23

Where: Lamb's Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado

Ticket: $28-$52

Info: (619) 437-0600

Web: www.lambsplayers.org