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To celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, Teatron is offering the musical A Glimpse of the Light by Ben Finn. It presents a group of weary travelers as they make their way treacherously to a kibbutz in the land of milk and honey.

Sometimes a show promises more than it actually delivers, for this musical is not about the birth of Israel, but rather about a small group of people caught up in the events leading to its establishment.

Although many musicals can survive one or two extraneous songs, too often the songs here seem like filler, and while the melodies are pleasant the songs do not advance the action or develop the characters - mainly because there is very little story to be told here. Time and again the book introduces story threads that fail to pay off. Case in point, the travelers spend much of the first act on a ship at sea where they are in constant fear of be being caught by the British. Yet nothing happens. They arrive at the destination as Act 1 ends, marked by an uplifting chorus number.

Again in the second act, the two romantic entanglements sort themselves out rather quickly and the show ends with the news of the birth of Israel and again an uplifting song.

The songs are quite good, from the beautifully haunting Vi Ahein Zil Ich Gayn (Where Shall I Go) to the stirring Song of Independence. These tunes stay with you long after the performance ends. A good musical, however, rises or falls because of its book and the book here is underdeveloped.

Nevertheless the small cast gives it the old college try and makes the most of the least. Nala Burdyna shows off a lovely voice as Ruchel, the woman hoping to reunite with her beloved, and Barrett Morrison is a strong-voiced Jack, the sailor who loves her. Esther Vallins and Clinton Somerton make a lively and amusing supporting couple as they tease each other mercilessly.

The musical values are solid thanks to the musical direction of Floyd Rickets, and if the ensemble is too small to really make the big anthems soar it certainly isn't for lack of trying. The performances that director Ari Weisberg has collaborated with his actors to create are appealingly realistic, and while the dancing is never extravagant the cast executes Nicole Hapke's simple steps with assurance.

The show is not without interest, but in the end, you feel a bit cheated because it keeps hinting at bigger and better story elements to come and they just never do.

A Glimpse of the Light plays until Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst St. Performances at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday, as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets: mid-week and matinees $29 for adults and $24 for students and seniors; Saturday performances: $33 for adults and $28 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 416-781-5527.