So what’s not to like? George Gershwin Alone gives us the glamour of Manhattan and Hollywood in the 1930s, a generous selection of beloved songs and even a little triumph-and-tragedy from the old neighborhood. "Rent, schment," you could almost hear Sunday’s matinee audience thinking. "This is the music that made America great!"

The title of Hershey Felder's show (he wrote the script, and is also the sole performer) is a bit of a misnomer: While Gershwin is the only character on stage, the great composer was never alone if there was a piano nearby. And when there's also an audience to charm well, this Gershwin is all showman, a veteran ham. Storytelling comes as naturally to him as making music.

They're good stories, too, even if many are familiar. Rapturous acclaim for "Rhapsody In Blue" provides one of the high points of Gershwin's life; critical misperceptions that dogged other works, and a stalled romance with Kay Swift, are among the bleaker moments. The saddest story comes last: the composer's lifelong headaches and avoidance of proper treatment. At age 38 and at the height of his creative powers, Gershwin was dead of an inoperable brain tumor.

It's the music that keeps things in a major key, and Felder provides a generous sampling of Gershwin tunes, from Broadway standards ("The Man I Love," "Swanee") to the lofty melodies of Porgy. The latter give him some trouble -- Felder is a limited singer, comfortable only in a small range and at low volume -- but ultimately his sense of style carries the day. He also entertains with some musical analyses: the way "I Loves You, Porgy" surprises with an unexpected high note, for example. Best of all, Felder is a splendid pianist, dazzling us with a climactic, near-complete solo piano performance of the Rhapsody.

But wait -- there's more! With the house lights on, Felder leads an audience-participation sing-along, going so far as to pick out talented but unsuspecting soloists among the crowd. Frankly, the whole thing was a bit too "cruise ship" for me, but Felder (whom my aunts would have described as "a real catch, a nice-looking fella!") had the adoring group in the palm of his hand.

All this said, it's a little disconcerting to find the Prince, which has distinguished itself with original and innovative productions, opening their season with this well-traveled (and very traditional) piece. Judging from the blissful sighs and standing O on Sunday, though, the audience didn't mind.