The latest from Stephen Seay Productions was what hipsters used to call a mixed bag. Seay's company, co-producing with Rachael Houdek's Cabaret, brought a fine venue into Charlotte's thin cabaret inventory, but their collaboration, Showstoppers: A Lesson in Show Tunes, took me through some deep valleys.

Atmosphere and acoustics in the cellar of Hartigan's Irish Pub on South Cedar Street were pretty close to perfection if you were sitting in the front row as we were. Crowd reaction, factoring in the lubricants available at the bar, was highly enthusiastic, and from a tech standpoint, lighting and costuming - both Seay's handiwork, as well as the sound - chimed well with the ambiance.

Combining elements of Glee, reality TV, and the drag queen exploits of Jay Russell and Christopher Jones, Showstoppers transcended a mere medley of pop and show tunes. The lightweight script by Jones, Russell, and Tania Kelly set Seay up as the instructor of a high school drama club, holding in the palm of his hand the coveted solo in the annual revue - presumably a more shapeless show than the one we were watching.

Competition and intrigue between the students? Without the lordly length or robust cast of a TV series, these were reduced to a fleeting animosity or two. The upset victory climaxing this saga yielded a quiet smile from the winner and two aggrieved laments. Our six students were nearly equaled in number by the school staff surrounding them - besides Seay, there was the principal, a counselor, and two lunch ladies.

Mixing his trademark impudence and conceit into his self-portrait, Seay was the clear vocal standout, starting us off with "Popular." Russell and Jones, as Lunch Ladies Chita and Liza, were the indisputable comedy aces anchoring the "Hey, Big Spender" vamp.

Often the other performers were stretched beyond their capabilities, resulting in some failed seductions and more than a couple of flat or wobbly high notes. Jason Barney showed off some fine dancing form while Stacy Crickenberger sang the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at a dreamy pace, but his lead vocal on Frankie Valli's "Sherry" had to be applauded as a valiant attempt rather than a triumph. It's possible that some of the voices had been overtaxed and depleted in rehearsals, but there was never a shortage of adrenalin from anyone.

The most consistent and satisfying of the supporting players were Veda Covington, who flashed some tap skills in her "Anything Goes" showcase, and Kat Caldwell, slyly effective in the "Big Spender" ensemble and her lone chunk of the spotlight, "Show Off." Ian Faire at the keyboard was the whole band, and his accompaniment never lost its glitter. We can expect less flickering overall when Seay Productions returns to a straight play - and NoDa - as Vanities opens next week at UpStage (formerly Wine Up).

Meanwhile, I'd say that the vibe at Hartigan's has earned the South Cedar joint a second look.