BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Sure, “Motown: The Musical” possesses the bigger song stack of golden oldies, but just across the street at the Richard Rodgers Theater, “Once Upon a Dream” boasts The Rascals themselves playing their hits.

Opening on Tuesday night for a short Broadway run, “Once Upon a Dream” is a concert that reunites the four original members of the celebrated blue-eyed soul group of the 1960s.

There they are:  Felix Cavaliere presiding at the keyboards, Eddie Brigati banging on tambourines, Dino Danelli working the drums and Gene Cornish on guitar.

Pudgy, grizzled or double-chinned these guys may be today but nevertheless their harmonies remain sweet, their forever funky energy is mighty high and their intermission-less 100-minute event offers heavenly pop nostalgia on Broadway for their fans.

The band’s program features more than two dozen of their songs including such Rascals classics as “A Girl Like You,” “Groovin’,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure?,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Good Lovin’,” and “People Got to Be Free.”

Directed and produced by Steven Van Zandt and Marc Brickman, the concert is augmented by a mix of vintage and pre-filmed video clips that alternate with psychedelic Rorschach test-like visuals projected across the background as the band performs. The band’s performance is backed by two more musicians and three vocalists, while Vinny Pastore (late of “The Sopranos”) amiably narrates some of the video.

During the show’s talking heads-style film clips, the band members are diplomatically vague about what broke them up in the early ‘70s. Van Zandt’s script also sticks to the lighter side but firmly situates The Rascals and their music-making in a socio-political context.

That’s all very well, of course, but the greatest thrill is in seeing The Rascals back together again and grooving away in such excellent form. A lot of Jersey boys and girls of a certain age – and many others in the tri-state area -- are likely to enjoy a very good time.

“The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream” continues through May 5 at the Richard Rodgers Theater, 226 W. 46th St., New York.  Call (877) 250-2929 or visit www.rascalsbway.com.