I mean no disrespect to the Arden's often-excellent "adult season" when I say that they bring something special to their family series. Producing artistic director Terry Nolen has palpable affection for this audience. His company puts major resources behind these shows—financial, sure, but most of all, a heaping helping of talent. And it's visible in every detail. If only the musicals we see on Broadway were so lovingly done.

The talented Reale Brothers (Willie writes book and lyrics, Rob writes music) must agree. They've entrusted the Arden with a world premiere of The Dinosaur Musical, their new show. No doubt they recognized the superb job Arden and director Whit MacLaughlin did last December with A Year With Frog and Toad.

With F&T, the Reales were working with first-class source material (Arnold Lobel's wonderful books). In Dinosaur, they've created an original story, and I'd have to say it's uneven. In a kingdom made up of carnivores (basically Tyrannosaurus rexes) and herbivores (mostly Parasaurolophuses, a word I learned Sunday), an uneasy treaty has been in place, prohibiting the killing of animals for food. When an insecure new king, young Quincy, takes the throne, his snarky handlers, Mr. Glut and Mrs. Gapp (T. rexes both), attempt to bring back lustful meat-eating.

The resulting piece is a dizzying mélange of genres. Political thriller, plea for tolerance, film noir, showbiz glitz, wartime heroism, endorsement of vegetarianism (is that a genre?)—it's all here. Or is it Jurassic Park meets The Parent Trap? Even the historical sense is bizarre: Everybody's a dinosaur, of course—but some seem like modern teenagers ("You are so captured," declares the king) and others like refugees from an RAF WWII romance. (The costumes by Richard St. Clair have enchanting details, but also reflect some of the cultural schizophrenia.)

Your best bet is not to get mired in the details, and by Act 2 you'll be eating it all up. The Reales have a way with clever theater songs, from a Gilbert-and-Sullivan-like riff on pasta, to a mock-Jolson vaudeville song called "I Don't Think You Really Want to Eat Me." These and everything else in the show are delivered with consummate style by a masterful ensemble, in which Donna Migliaccio, Jillian Louis and beloved Arden vets Ben Dibble and Joshua Lamon especially shine.

Director MacLaughlin does superb work here—there's energy and charm galore, but also sophistication. He, like Nolen and the rest of the Arden team, have exceptional gifts to offer this holiday season. And I guarantee that all of you—kids and adults—will have a great time.

THE DINOSAUR MUSICAL Through Jan. 22, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122