My biggest problem, though, is that the story that forms the basis of the new musical is so awful it makes everyone involved seem like an untalented idiot. On top of that, the sets look like they are from a stock production, the costumes are unattractive, and the chorus needs to be triple its size.

Despite all the above, I found myself enjoying the characters by the end. This is because the performers are all first-rate. Bakula does a terrific job with what he has been given. Mari Davi is a good singer and dancer. The only characters that really work as is, however, are Hal Meadows, simply played by Benjamin Howes, and Jeff Cordova, the scene stealing classical actor, smashingly played by Patrick Page. The plot twist making them lovers is not a distraction. Far from seeming artificially laid on, it is actually is one of the few nice additions to the original story.

What is left of the original is what works best. This musical needs to be rethought in light of what made the movie work so well. While the producers may not be able to find a Fred Astaire, and Bakula would still be fine, they should get rid of all the heavy back stories. Then they could once again find the elegance that drew audiences into the story in the first place. As it stands now, I can’t get on the bandwagon.

At The Old Globe until April 13.