STEPPIN' OUT IN STYLE NOHO TROUPE BRINGS THE MUSIC OF IRVING BERLIN TO LIFE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

UPON FIRST hearing the music to Irving Berlin's ``White Christmas,'' Bing Crosby is reported to have uttered the phrase, ``This one will do just fine.'' We have this from the crooner's widow, Kathryn Crosby, who elegantly takes on narrative duties in ``The Melody Lingers On,'' the revue of some three dozen Berlin songs at the El Portal Theatre.

``White Christmas,'' to no one's surprise, is among them. Kathryn Crosby introduces and sings part of ``White Christmas'' before she's joined in duet by Todd Murray, who plays the Berlin persona in ``Melody.''

And that song - with thanks to Mr. C. - does just fine. As does ``Melody.'' Fine as in wine. Or china.

It's a crackerjack of a songbook that musical supervisor Edward Sayegh and music director Colin Freeman are playing with here. The cast, directed and choreographed by Jamie Rocco, is stellar. Combine Crosby's presence with David Engel's fancy footwork and the lovely voices of Christine Saffran Ashford and Melina Marie Kalomas, and you're pretty well-stocked. The entire ensemble, in fact, is composed of legitimate song-and-dance double threats. Rocco and dance captain Aimee Mauzey put them on vibrant display.

Berlin, in addition to being talented and prolific, had the good fortune to live past 100. A man with that kind of drive and longevity figures to write an awful lot of tunes. But are you kidding me? ``Easter Parade,'' ``Alexander's Ragtime Band,'' ``Blue Skies,'' ``There's No Business Like Show Business,'' ``I Love a Piano'' and ``God Bless America.''

This is not to suggest that any ragtag group of crooners would do these songs justice, but Berlin's music is pretty much impossible to kill, particularly with singers of this caliber.

In addition to the standards, we get some equally deserving lesser-knowns. For all the sprightly punch she puts into ``When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam,'' Saffron tears the blues-soaked roof off of ``Summertime.'' Kalomas, taking the persona of Berlin's wife, Ellin Mackay, does a beautiful rendition of ``What'll I Do?''

The song-bridging dialogue is taken from Berlin's biography, written by his daughter, Mary Ellin Barrett. Apart from giving Crosby a defined function in ``Melody'' (she has the fewest songs), the dialogue and biographical snippets don't serve much of a function. We learn of some of Berlin's early struggles (including the death of his first wife and infant son) and that he hit a funk at age 40. By the second act, which showcases much of Berlin's movie and Broadway work, the storytelling and contextualizing of songs have fallen largely by the wayside.

Fred Astaire puts in an appearance (via the nimble-footed Engel leading ``Steppin' Out With My Baby''). Followed by Ethel Merman (Fiama Franco) toning down the brashness with selections from ``Call Me Madam'' and ``Annie Get Your Gun.'' Physical mimicry isn't the point of the exercise here (Murray, in particular, looks nothing like Berlin), but that's hardly a problem.

Whether wearing tails, musical-theater wear or puttin' on the ritz (yes, that song's in there, too), the players look smart (costumes are by Sharell L. Martin) and move gracefully. Sayegh, Freeman and original arranger/orchestrator Donald Johnston makes sure they sound great. With an able assist - of course - from one Irving Berlin. Long may his music linger.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

THE MELODY LINGERS ON - THE SONGS OF IRVING BERLIN - Three and one half stars

Where: El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; through July 10.

Tickets: $35 to $50. Call [phone] or www.elportaltheatre.com.

In a nutshell: The songbook of Irving Berlin yields unlimited treasures.

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Photo:

Fred Astaire (David Engel, left) and Irving Berlin (Todd Murray) share a scene in ``The Melody Lingers On - The Songs of Irving Berlin,'' at the El Portal Theatre.