MUSIC TO REMEMBER: 'BABES IN ARMS' OPENS TONIGHT AT ROSE THEATRE (REVIEW)

As well plumbed as the "Let's put on a show" vein of musical theater has been, Rodgers and Hart's "Babes in Arms" offers one thing that makes most any old plot work -- great music.

Present-day musicals struggle to eke out a single memorable song. This score includes "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady is a Tramp," "Where or When," "I Wish I Were in Love Again" and "Johnny One-Note." Whatever the cause the show needs to raise money for, these songs can do it.

The University Theatre presents "Babes in Arms" beginning at 8 tonight. Shows continue Saturday, Thursday, March 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. A matinee performance is scheduled at 2 p.m. March 11. Interpretation for people with hearing impairments will be provided March 9.

Director Dennis Seyer will have to overcome more than the usual obstacles to putting on a show before tonight's premiere. The vocally powerful Julie Stoverink is trying to overcome a bronchial infection. Jessica Carter, who has a ballet sequence, sustained a hairline fracture in her foot during rehearsal Monday. At Tuesday's dress rehearsal, she played her part on crutches.

Even with her voice in dry-dock, Stoverink is superb as Bunny, part owner of the Surf and Sand Playhouse on Cape Cod. Led by songwriter Valentine White (David P. Schneider), the "kids" at the playhouse want to mount a revue to help her pay her debt to chiseling partner Seymour Fleming, archly played by Mike Culbertson.

Schneider, a veteran of University Theatre productions, is the solid center of the production. His timing is perfect, and he holds his own vocally.

Erin Darter is appealing as former child actress Jennifer Owen, and her sweet voice rings in her duets with Schneider on "Where or When" and the lesser known but surprisingly good "You're Nearer."

Amanda Louise Earls plays the lovestruck Susie Ward with great energy and sings "My Funny Valentine," the show's musical masterpiece, tenderly.

The theater apprentices include extra-large Todd Masterson as slow-thinking Gus Field and extra-small Casey Ann Burman as the calculating flirt Terry Thompson. Here's a couple who in a number of ways don't appear to be made for each other.

Some of Terry's dresses are amazing. Costume coordinator Megwyn Sanders has made the 1930s look better than they did for most.

James Adams is engaging as the press agent who occasionally clues the audience in to the current drama at the Surf And Sand.

Dan Graul is insufferable -- in a good way -- as playwright Lee Calhoun, author of "Deep North," the revue's competition.

Derek McCarty as producer Steve Edwards and Jamee Edmundson as Jennifer Owen's mother, Phyllis, are fine.

Students with smaller roles include Jedediah Wilson, Jason Foerstel, Matt Fanning, Laura Huusko, Janel Mason, Beth Roethemeyer and Gina Cutelli.

Paul Zmolek's inventive choreography has the apprentices dancing with cleaning tools and at one point dancing while lying down. The dream scene "Imagine Ballet: Imagine This" works to keep predictability at bay.

Seyer's distinctive sets also give the audience a sense of movement, and he ingeniously takes them backstage for one scene.

The 11-piece orchestra under Dr. Christopher Goeke's direction includes pianist Tim DePriest, Amy Arnold, Jennie Carter and Jami Castor on reeds, trumpets Bobby Abernathy and Jeni Moore, trombonists Augustus Davis, percussionist Dana Johnson, violinists Bev Reece and Laura Crump, and violist Mindy Hoffman.

The assistant director is Christine Beardslee. The associate music directors are Leslie Jones and Steve Hendricks. The stage manager is Holley Hargraves.