CALL THIS 'MADAM' A ROLLICKING GOOD TIME.

Byline: Julio Martinez Correspondent

Fifty years ago, composer Irving Berlin and the team of Russel Crouse/Howard Lindsay penned a vehicle for legendary trumpet-voiced Broadway star Ethel Merman that was also a political spoof of the U.S. post-World War II emergence as the world's financial sugar daddy.

Opening its fourth season of concert versions of long-gone Broadway shows, Reprise! Broadway's Best wisely downplays the show's woefully lightweight book and places all its emphasis on Berlin's very hummable tunes.

The production's musical output is aided immensely by Karen Morrow in the title role of Mrs. Sally Adams, supported by the soaring tenor of Hugh Panaro and silver-voiced Melissa Dye. Set in 1950 during the zenith of the Truman presidency, the misadventures of Adams in the mythical Duchy of Lichtenburg were inspired by Truman's real-life appointment of famous D.C. party-giver Mrs. Perle Mesta as ambassador to the tiny European principality of Luxembourg.

The plot, which centers on Adams' romantic shenanigans with Prime Minister Cosmo Constantine (Michael Nouri) and young aide Kenneth Gibson's (Panaro) passion for Lichtenburg Princess Maria (Dye), is nothing more than a trivial setup for some really fine music.

Morrow doesn't possess the unadulterated vocal power of Merman (no one ever has), but she instills a great deal of personality and zest into such ditties as ``The Hostess With the Mostess,'' ``Washington Square Dance'' and ``Can You Use Any Money Today.''

The duo of Nouri and Morrow doesn't fare quite as well. Nouri is too vocally tentative to sell the love ballads, ``Marrying for Love'' and ``The Best Thing for You'' and Morrow chooses not to overpower him. The coupling of Panaro and Dye, however, is pure musical joy. Panaro's Kenneth just soars through the love ballad ``Once Upon a Time Today.''

And if champagne could sing, it would sound like Dye as she floats over the lively novelty tune, ``The Ocarina'' and duets with Panaro on the musical highlight of the first act, Berlin's classic, ``It's a Lovely Day Today.''

The production is also blessed with an outstanding supporting ensemble that is aided immensely by the quirky, inventive choreography of Alan Johnson and the retooled orchestrations of music director Peter Matz, performed by an enthusiastic on-stage, swing era-inspired big band (no strings attached).

Even in a no-set concert setting, all collaborate to make viable such production numbers as ``Mrs. Sally Adams,'' ``Something to Dance About'' and the wonderfully comical ``They Like Ike.'' The latter number, which actually became Eisenhower's 1952 presidential campaign song, is performed by an energetic trio of cartoon politicians (Michael Tucci, Gerry McIntyre, Paul Claussen).

Of course, as in the original production, the one true showstopper is Berlin's rip-roaring second-act contrapuntal duet between Morrow and Panaro, ``You're Just in Love.'' The pair exude such a perfectly matched synergy of musicality and power, the audience can't help getting to its feet. Supporting the production greatly are Philip G. Allen's admirably balanced sound design and the period perfect costumes of Noel Taylor.

``CALL ME MADAM''

Where: Freud Playhouse in Macgowan Hall on the UCLA campus, Hilgard Avenue, Westwood. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Sept. 24. Tickets: $50. Call [phone]. Our rating: Three stars

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Karen Morrow stars in ``Call Me Madam,'' through Sunday at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.