Augusto Guardado as Danny Alvarado and Natasha Harris as Moony Miller star in Oregon Cabaret Theatre's production of "Pine Mountain Lodge."

“Pine Mountain Lodge,” now playing at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, seems to be writer and director Rick Robinson’s loving tribute to Christmas movies from the 1940s and early ’50s — with a twist.

In the musical, there’s a mysterious couple who step up to help the new owner of the lodge try and save it. It’s sort of “Holiday Inn” meets “White Christmas,” and for those who may be old enough, there’s a touch of the movie “Topper” tossed in there, too.

There was something about those “forget your cares, c’mon get happy” movies that lifted spirits and offered hope before and after World War II, where characters sang and tap-danced their way into audience’s hearts. “Pine Mountain Lodge” engages its audience with the same elements — lots of romance, classic theater tunes and tap dancing. And although it may not have Fred Astaire careening across the stage with fireworks — or for that matter, a flashy finale — it is light-hearted and entertaining.

The story follows a returning World War II vet, Danny Alvarado, who has inherited his father’s Catskill’s hotel, which has been failing for some time. Danny is coaxed by a ghost couple who haunt the premises (who only he can see) into putting on one final show, with the hope of saving the hotel from bankruptcy.

The two ghosts, George Edwards and Edie Arlen, were popular vaudevillians in their day, dance partners and lovers. The problem was, they could never agree on anything in life and have carried the discord into their afterlives. They do agree on one thing, however — they want to help Danny save the hotel in which they made a name for themselves.

The couple Brent Hayes (Tony Carter) and Moony Miller (Natasha Harris) are the featured act for this final production, and they too are having their differences. Brent has ambitions of starring on Broadway, while Moony just wants to be with Brent and put on a good show. Things get complicated when Brent is given the opportunity to star with Ethel Merman in New York. Harris and Carter blend well together, with strong voices and enchanting dance numbers.

Galloway Stevens plays George Edwards, the quintessential leading man from that bygone era. He is debonair, coiffed, charming and amusingly affected — he’s great. Stevens offers an amusing counterpoint to Valerie Rachelle’s determined Edie Arlen; Rachelle embodying the feisty, “never say never” Edie. George is both captivated and annoyed by Edie at the same time. The two darlings make quite a “spirited” pair.

Augusto Guardado is making his Cabaret debut as Danny. While Guardado can sing and dance with the best of them, he plays Danny rather meekly for a young man who has supposedly flown several combat missions. The character of Danny appears to lack confidence. Perhaps Robinson can direct Guardado as Danny, to draw on his own confidence over several performances.

John Lambie plays Jim Bailey, the hotel caretaker and an old friend of Danny’s father, with the gentle persuasiveness the character calls for.

A Cabaret musical certainly can’t go wrong with a score made up of some of the cleverest tunes by the greatest composers of the 20th century, including Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Cole Porter. The two couples on stage tap and sing, bringing the music to life and the story to a happy conclusion.

The standards were played by a live musical quartet, composed of pianist and composer Karl Iverson; bassist Geo Betus; percussionist Steve Sutfin; and Tatjana Luce on woodwinds. The accompaniment didn’t support the score as sturdily as it has for other shows, but with enough performances, the strength of the music will probably build.

The set is solid with the feel of pine, though it might have been dressed a bit more for the holidays. The costumes capture the style of the era with pleated trousers, a polka-dot skirt, a rhinestone-lined dress and tailored blouses.

Maybe this is what we need after a long year of electioneering: to sit in a cozy nightclub lit by romantic lighting, watching a familiar story, with some rousing tap numbers set to heartwarming music and songs.

Performances of “Pine Mountain Lodge” are set for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Mondays and select Wednesdays, and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 31. Were it a movie, “Pine Mountain Lodge” would be rated PG due to mild adult situations and very mild language.

Oregon Cabaret Theatre is located at 241 Hargadine St., on the corner of First and Hargadine streets, in Ashland.

Tickets are $32-$49. Tickets and information are available at oregoncabaret.com or by calling 541-488-2902. Reservations are required for pre-show dinner and brunch. Appetizers, beverages and desserts are available without reservations. Student rush tickets are $15 and can be purchased 30 minutes before curtain with valid ID, subject to availability. Group discounts available.