Maybe someone else can comment on the visibility of the stars. Only the brightest stars are visibles because the landscape not becomes as dark as night. It's very similar to 45 minutes after sunset on mid latitudes with a 360 degrees twilight. The sky around the eclipsed sun has a purple hue and only the moon is coal dark. In Mexico in 1991 I saw Sirius, Regulus and Canopus for the stars and Mercury, Venus and Jupiter for the planets.
Stars are difficult but possible to see during a total eclipse.
They have to be actively searched out. In 7 total eclipses I have not once seen a star. My wife has been luckier. Her observation is mentioned in Sky and Telescope, Nov. 1992, p.581. I think that will be the best bet esp first with binoculars - then naked eye.