Joel Kipper plays George M. Cohan and Jane Labanz plays his mother, Nellie, in the musical George M!, being presented at Theatre-by-the- Sea through July 12.

Mark Turek

With July Fourth just around the corner, Theatre by the Sea must have thought this was a good time to once again dust off George M!, the cornball saga of Rhode Island-born song-and-dance man George M. Cohan. While this trite 1960s musical is mostly about Cohan’s 25-year reign over Broadway during the early 1900s, there are a few patriotic tunes apropos of the season, along with some unabashed flag waving.

Otherwise, George M!, playing Matunuck through July 12, seems terribly dated, with a tedious go-nowhere plot and tired musical numbers such as “Harrigan,” sung with George and his vaudeville-partner father engaged in mock fisticuffs and sporting instant Irish brogues.

Part revue, with music by Cohan, and part book musical, the show devotes an awful lot of time to George’s youth and his lesser-known songs. It’s not until the second act that he emerges as “the man who owned Broadway.”

Of course, sensational singing and dancing would have gone a long way toward covering some of these shortcomings. But this production can claim only passable efforts in that regard. The numerous tap numbers from choreographer Michael Susko were solid but not sizzling. And most of the voices were average, at best.

Director Amiee Turner did score points casting Joel Kipper as Cohan, at least as young George. Kipper, who otherwise is the theater’s managing producer, a job that has kept him on the sidelines, had no trouble getting back his stage chops. He was fine in musical numbers (even with that reedy tenor of his) and looked sharp in the hoofing routines.

The audience broke out in applause Friday night then clapped along as Kipper launched into an upbeat “Give My Regards to Broadway.” And there was more approval as the company tapped its way through a bubbling “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” probably the best routine in the show.

Kipper also brought lots of enthusiasm — along with more than a little arrogance — to the part, just the right touch for a 20-something Cohan out to conquer the world of musical theater. At one point, a hot-headed George turns his back on an important theater producer because the man didn’t offer the family vaudeville act plum bookings.

But as the late-in-life George who finds Broadway can do without him, Kipper was less convincing.

George M!, which draws on the 1942 Jimmy Cagney biopic, follows the life and times of Rhode Island’s famed native son, who was born in Providence July 3, not Independence Day as his parents and his songs would lead us to believe. That was in the late 1870s, and it wasn’t long before young Georgie joined his parents and older sister to become The Four Cohans, one of the most popular vaudeville acts in the land. By the turn of the century, George was writing and starring in his own shows, few if any of which are remembered today.

The musical’s few dramatic moments come with the breakup of workaholic George’s first marriage, his opposition to an actors’ union and his inability to change with the times when he is cast at the end of his career in I’d Rather Be Right, a 1937 musical about President Roosevelt.

The show would have us believe that Cohan was washed up at that point, but in fact, I’d Rather Be Right was a triumph for Cohan. It became one of the hottest tickets on Broadway. But including that information in the plot wouldn’t lend itself to the sentimental ending that writers John and Francine Pascal have come up with.

Besides Kipper, there is some decent acting to be found among the leads.

Bob Freschi, who took part in Theatre by the Sea productions of Gypsy and Damn Yankees and has appeared on Broadway, is back as the patient, sweet-natured Jerry Cohan, who does his best to extinguish George’s short fuse. Jane Labanz, who played opposite Patti LuPone in Anything Goes at Lincoln Center, takes on the role of George’s mom, Nellie.

Recent RIC grad Kristen Quartarone is a vocally challenged Josie, George’s older sister. Also back is Tyler Fish, seen in last summer’s fine production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He plays George’s partner, Sam Harris.

But the show really belongs to Kipper, who is on stage for most of the two acts. He’s got the big tunes, songs such as “Over There,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Give My Regards to Broadway.”

But most of that music sounds pretty creaky today, even with July Fourth fast upon us.

George M! runs through July 12 at Theatre by the Sea, 364 Cards Pond Rd., Matunuck. Tickets are $39 to $49. Call (401) 782-8587.

cgray@projo.com