Last modified: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 1:18 PM EDT Kristen Quartarone of Wrentham dances with three other cast members in Theatre by the Sea's 'George M!' (Photo by Mark Turek) REVIEW: Theatre by the Sea puts on one dandy 'George M!' BY JAMES A. MEROLLA STAFF WRITER MATUNUCK, R.I. - As a fellow Rhode Islander, all I can say is, "Thank God, Theatre by the Sea is back." After having reviewed so many musicals - professional, semi-professional, good amateur, bad amateur - for 16 years or more, and wanting to chew my program over the raggedness of much of the dancing or tedious set changes or fair to middling singers or miscast leads - I can say without fear of contradiction that TBTS is the best place in Rhode Island to see a musical done right. Their high energy production of "George M!" - the more-than-a-revue songfest based on the patriotic life of Rhode Island song-and-dance legend George M. Cohan - is simply off the charts. The casting is superb, the singing point on, the sets cleverly assembled and disassembled, but, most importantly, you can drink in an ensemble of pros who can actually, truly, wildly, splendidly dance!!! It is such a joy to see a musical and not have to worry about sound problems or any of a dozen technical distractions that quickly shatter your suspension of disbelief and remind you, "Oh, yeah, I'm watching the (insert name here) theater group attempt to get through or survive (place any musical title here)." I won't inundate you with details. Just know that Joel Kipper is sensational as George M. Cohan; he's a tapping, singing wonder whose crystalline tenor voice is cast album-worthy. And that Wrentham's Kristen Quartarone is so deliciously cute as his sister Josie that you want to lift her up by her button-down boots, squeeze her, and put her in your pocket. Right down the line, from maven to maid, the support system ensemble is rich in talent and energy. Gas prices be damned. If you are a fan of musical theater; if you want to see it done exactly right (and this includes all you producers from ALL our area/regional theaters); if you want an absolutely fabulous experience in a glorious, old theater barn which is celebrating 75 years of entertaining the grateful patrons in South County, R.I., consider taking the hour-long drive down Route 295 to Route 4 to Route 1 to Matunuck. Stroll the amazing, lush, colorful garden walkway outside the barn, with its exotic vegetation; smell the ocean air; mingle with "the old time crowd," as they say in Cohan's "Give My Regards to Broadway." And learn the right way to do a show. "George M!" runs through July 12 at TBTS, followed by Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Evita," July 16-Aug. 3 and "The Producers," Aug. 6-31. The theater is located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI. Tickets range from $39 to $49. You can get them by going to www.theatrebythesea.com or by calling 401-782TKTS (8587).