“Crazy for You” Monday, Apr. 1, Opera House

Who could ask for anything more?

“Crazy for You” is a near-perfect blend of dance, comedy and Gershwin music. This first-rate touring production proves beyond a doubt that American musical comedy - of the frothy, light-hearted variety - is one of the most enjoyable forms of pure entertainment ever invented.

To give you some idea of the jam-packed quality of this show, consider that it contains three of the finest American pop songs ever written, all in the space of 10 minutes in the second act: “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “But Not For Me” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

The only reason we don’t get five of America’s best pop songs in a row is that “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “I Got Rhythm” are both in the first act.

The “I Got Rhythm” number illustrates why this show is so much fun. The cast is standing on the tumbleweed streets of Deadrock, Nev. Suddenly, the grizzled prospectors, flea-bitten cowboys and New York showgirls (how they ended up in Deadrock is part of the fun) begin to bang out the rhythms of “I Got Rhythm” with pickaxes, shovels and hammers. Before long, dancers are beating time on the corrugated steel roofs. Pretty soon, a dozen gold pans appear, and not only are they used for percussion, but the dancers put them on ground and start tapping on them.

The entire thing builds to a crescendo of ensemble dancing, clever comedy and virtuoso showmanship. This is the way “I Got Rhythm” was meant to be done; George and Ira Gershwin must be looking on, beaming.

The choreography, originally by Susan Stroman and adapted for this tour by Deanna Dys, is endlessly inventive with the props. One of the big crowd-pleasers comes in “Slap That Bass,” when the cowboys use lengths of rope to convert the showgirls into bass fiddles, which they proceed to pluck with enthusiasm.

The comedy is constant. Book writer Ken Ludwig mined vaudeville for dozens of gags and puns, nearly all of which work. Here’s an example:

“I don’t believe one word of it.”

“Oh yeah? Which one?”

The story is pure escapism of the ‘30s variety, even though the show was written in the ‘90s around 18 Gershwin songs. Bobby Childs is a rich banker’s kid who doesn’t want to become a banker. He wants to be a dancer. His domineering mother gives him an ultimatum: He must go to Deadrock to serve a foreclosure notice on the old theater or be disinherited.

Once there, he falls in love with Polly and hatches an idea for saving the theater: Hey, gang, let’s put on a show!

Noah Racey delivers a virtuoso performance as Bobby. Not only is this guy an absolutely brilliant actor, but he has the physical comedy instincts (and more than a few of the mannerisms) of Martin Short. His minutes-long attempt to drunkenly negotiate a staircase was a show-stopper, as were at least three of his big dance numbers.

“Crazy For You” never descends to camp or nostalgia. It has a nobler purpose: to show American musical comedy at its best. It succeeds.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Crazy for You” continues today and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera House. Tickets are $30 and $32, available at all regional G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, or by calling 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT (credit cards only).