An off-Broadway musical at Fells Point Corner Theatre, "The Immigrant," serves as a reminder that New York City wasn't the only destination for Eastern European immigrants in the early 20th century. The sociologically oriented plot concerns Russian Jews settling in a Baptist community in Texas. Shalom, y'all.

Although that unusual meeting of cultures ensures that "The Immigrant" will hold your interest, this musical remains intellectually interesting rather than emotionally compelling.

The book by Mark Harelik, music by Steven M. Alper and lyrics by Sarah Knapp competently present the demographically diverse characters and contentious thematic issues, but the show tends to feel like a predictable history lesson.

As numerous short scenes and equally short songs take the story forward from 1909 to 1943, you'll be able to anticipate every ethnic joke and dramatic conflict. Harelik, who based this 2000 musical on his 1985 autobiographical play, treats his personal history in an overly schematic fashion.

When the aspiring merchant Haskell Harelik (DC Cathro) arrives in Hamilton, Texas, he is its only Jewish resident. He rents a room from a Christian banker, Milton Perry (Mike Ware), and Perry's wife, Ima (Adele Russell). The plot is most engaging in these early scenes detailing how mutual misunderstanding and suspicion gradually give way to friendship.

As the Yiddish-speaking Haskell acclimates to American life and the Christian couple in turn realize he's a nice guy, they still remark about their differences and yet increasingly comment on their similarities.

Haskell is eventually joined by his wife, Leah (a very convincing Stacey R. Needle), whose Old World habits are so deeply ingrained that she responds to Texas as if it were another planet. It's amusing to listen as Leah and Ima sit at the kitchen table and express curiosity about their respective cultures. Making a meal is a great way to make a friend.

Although the cast generally seem constricted by their demographically defined roles, there's just enough emotional substance in the writing and acting to make the characters seem like more than ethnic categories. There's probably no escaping the fact that the script treats conversational exchanges as political talking points, but director Bill Kamberger and his cast should be able to find ways to give those conversations a more casually lived-in feeling.

The same thing applies to the singing, which gets the job done and yet also tends to push the material into shrillness. These performers often force their voices as they turn the talking points into singing points. Considering that one nice aspect of the songs is their conversational give-and-take, it should be relatively easy for the cast to settle more comfortably into them.

Indeed, there already are some really nice musical moments in this production. When Mike Ware and DC Cathro comment on the numerous "Changes" in their lives, there is an endearingly relaxed back-and-forth quality as they trade lines. And when Ware and Stacey R. Needle musically discuss their marital situation in "Travel Light," their sweetly harmonized voices demonstrate the show's potential to please the ears as well as the conscience.

"The Immigrant" runs through June 8 at Fells Point Corner Theatre (251 S. Ann St., Baltimore). Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. There is no performance Sunday, May 25; and there is an additional performance June 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, $17 for seniors and students. Call 410-276-7837 or go to www.fpct.org.

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