The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music is delivering another “don't miss” musical through the weekend, a smart, emotionally urgent, ravishingly art deco production of Grand Hotel. The most “don't miss” thing about it are some dazzling performances from the student ensemble.

        The time is 1928, the place the lobby of a luxury Berlin hotel. In case you don't recall the star-studded film version (Barrymore, Garbo, Crawford ... ), a retired army doctor (Gregory Lofts), the worse for shrapnel and mustard gas, plays narrator and introduces us to the primary players:

        A ballerina (Mary Cuchetti) on her eighth farewell tour. The companion (Erin Ortman) who secretly loves her.

        A handsome young nobleman (Jason Patrick Sands), impoverished, fond of the high life and too noble for his own good.

        A businessman (Erik Nelson) on the edge. A typist (Angela Gaylor) who wants to be a star.

        A former bookkeeper (Tyler Maynard) intent on finding life before he has none left.

        It's grand scale melodrama, grandly performed by the entire ensemble. In between Diane Lala's big choreography, guest director Paul Daigneault strips the show down to its basic raw emotions, and his cast willingly and ably pitch themselves into it.

        The action plays out on Paul Shortt's set, which is all about giving the players room to roam. As the audience is seated, the stage is bare except for the art deco flooring and a revolving door. Then vertical deco lighting — not too much, just enough to set the atmosphere — drops in. Finally, a mural that would be at home in Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room is unveiled across the back of the set. Delicious.

        In Grand Hotel, CCM fans say goodbye to graduating seniors. Ms. Cuchetti, who finds the exact mix of fragility and ego, hopelessness and a stirring of renewed hope to move her character beyond cliche.

        Mr. Maynard has never been better than as bookkeeper Kringelein, out of place and out of time but having the time of his life. He brings down the house in a show-stopping Charleston.

        Mr. Nelson again demonstrates the chameleon nature of a fine character actor, this time transforming himself into a brutal businessman. The wonderful Mr. Lofts (sublime as the light-footed Mr. Magix in My One and Only) ends his CCM career in a thankless role, glooming and dooming in and out of the action, but he does well enough with it.

        Three juniors are already showing the stuff that makes big careers. Angela Gaylor has been a stand-out since The Secret Garden more than a year ago. She's sparkling as self-named Flaemmchen who intends to go a long way, whatever it takes.

        Leading men are hard to come by at CCM, but Jason Patrick Sands has been memorable in supporting roles in both CCM and Hot Summer Nights productions. Here, he comes into his own. Factor in that he's playing a romantically over-the-top John Barrymore role and carries it off. Impressive.

        Ms. Ortman, showing a passion as big as her beautiful voice, makes an impression in a relatively small role. Terrific in a variety bit are Keldon LaVar Price and Barry James as The Jimmys.

        The show's only false notes are some pantomimed pre-show action that doesn't ring true, and the sound design, by a student learning the ropes.

        Grand Hotel, continuing Thursday-Sunday University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Patricia Corbett Theater. 556-4183.
       

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