Excellent leads do well by their flimsy characters. Leslie Uggams positively glows as Fauna, Will Chase makes in every way a handsome Doc and somehow Laura Osnes manages to make the vaguely troubled Suzy – sorry, Ockie, it’s a poorly-written role – rather appealing.

Notable amid the company of bums and floozies are Tom Wopat, Stephen Wallem, Philip Hernandez and Linda Mugleston. Director Marc Bruni and choreographer Kelli Barclay keeps everybody moving quickly through the musical’s more ebbing than flowing processes. Designer John Lee Beatty neatly dresses the concert with colorfully rusting signboards for the Cannery Row environs while Ken Billington’s lighting evokes the Pacific coast.

“Pipe Dream” will never be a classic but at least registers as an agreeable rarity thanks to this typically classy revival by Encores! Incidentally, Ghostlight Records will make a live recording of it this weekend.

“Pipe Dream” continues through Sunday at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St., New York. Call (212) 581-1212 or visit www.nycitycenter.org.

RECENT REVIEWS BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

REVIEW: Cheers for ‘NOW. HERE. THIS.’

REVIEW: ‘Regrets’ debuts at Manhattan Theatre Club

REVIEW: ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore’ proves bloody good

REVIEW: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ arrives

REVIEW: See ‘Once’ and you’ll want to see it twice

REVIEW: Witness ‘Death of a Salesman’

REVIEW: ‘Venus in Fur’ still thrills

REVIEW: ‘An Iliad’ speaks to war through the ages

REVIEW: ‘Painting Churches’ looks on the bright side

REVIEW: ‘The Lady from Dubuque’ returns

REVIEW: 'Tribes' studies communication

REVIEW: ‘Carrie’ looks bloody good

REVIEW: ‘Rated P for Parenthood’ rocks with recognition

JOIN US AT NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

ON OUR NEWSROOM

ON FACEBOOK

ON TWITTER