“Fairy Tales” and “Happily Ever After” have been great fodder for musical theater usually targeting multi-generational audiences, being prudent to include visual and intellectual content that will entertain all ages. Disney has had remarkable success bringing their animated characters to the stage surrounding them with lavish sets, adorning them in gorgeous costumes, and infusing intricate stagecraft into the production that impresses most audiences. More sophisticated attempts follow the fractured fairy tale route, unearthing the dark side of the story to relate to the present social landscape. The latest production to enter the New York theater scene is “Between the Lines” based on the book by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer with music and lyrics penned by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. This attempt does not adhere to either of the aforementioned formulas but also does not offer anything new to this genre.

Delilah (Arielle Jacobs) is the awkward new kid in school having just moved with her overworked mother (Julia Murney). Their relationship has been strained since her dad left and now has a new family. Schoolmates are the typical couples; rich mean girl and her best friend and dumb jock and his cohort. Too much time spent on a “mean girls” plot. The chemistry teacher is sleeping with the principal and the librarian is an old spinster. Delilah befriends fellow outcast nonbinary Jules (Wren Rivera) after a shaky introduction. When Delilah immerses herself in a fairy tale book she engages with Prince Oliver (Jake David Smith) who leaps off the page and into real life. This becomes Deliah’s escape from the real world. The entire cast doubles as characters in the fairy tale.

There are no surprises here and there lies the problem. The heteronormative production certainly does not appeal to a diverse audience and at times translates as offensive, especially to women. References to current topics fall flat and are misplaced in the script with no relevance to the action. The Prince could not be more charming or physically built, no warts or blemishes here.

The entire cast is superb, and their vocals are outstanding. They almost transcend the material and force you to just sit back and enjoy their performances. I mean who wouldn’t fall in love with a dog named Frump (Will Burton) in a big tap dance number. Scenic design by Tobin Ost is clever but the execution of the idea needs to be improved. The music is filled with Broadway belt and the lyrics appropriately moving the plot along. The book by Timothy Allen McDonald is sophomoric, trite, and derivative and tries too hard to be inventive and current. Costumes by Gregg Barnes are spot on bringing the fairy tale to life. In the end there might be a happily ever after but unfortunately it does not exist “Between the Lines.”