The story of Buddy Holly-such as it is, short scenes between musical numbers-could be any one of a hundred different rock and roll legends. True of so many artists, you could almost switch names interchangeably and still be accurate: "(Young Talent) grows up in a small town near a big city, where he/she hears the music call him/her. He/She blows his/her first two or three attempts at stardom, by his/her rebellious determination to do it 'His/Her Way.' He/She ticks off nearly everyone that he/she comes into contact with. Yet, somehow, one or two people still manage to believe in him/her, despite his/her cocky arrogance, and they give him/her the push he/she needs to Make It Big." Am I talking about Richie Valenz, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Bette Midler or Madonna?

The name of the play is "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," so there's your first hint. Watching the familiar themes unfold, I felt I could see each plot point far before it came to fruition. But "Buddy" doesn't pretend to be reinventing the wheel. It just strives to tell this oft-told tale, to the best of its ability. "Buddy" is just a two-and-a-half hour concert of Holly's most famous songs, with some acting tossed in between songs, in homage to the late, great performer whose death was so tragic and untimely, it was said that the music died along with him and his companions.

Part of Buddy's charm is that he didn't look like a rock 'n' roller; he's busted more than once during the play about being as sexually attractive as a pocket protector. And actor Brendan Murphy plays that up, exacerbating some of Buddy's doofier traits, but mixing in enough nerdy confidence to make him absolutely appealling. Murphy has made something of a career out of playing Buddy, and the experience has afforded him the unusually opportunity to really study every nuance of his character: every blink, every stance, every unabashed, blatant stare is completely consistent. Murphy makes us understand, without ever saying it in so many words, that Holly wants what he wants, and he goes and gets it. This insatiable hunger drives him in every area of his life, from his explosive musical style to his marriage proposal to a virtual stranger.

The supporting cast is equally charming, bringing us back to that repressed age when rock was considered rebel, "colored" music that drew good kids into the pits of hell. The Crickets, Joe B. Maudlin (Devon Goffman) and Jerry Allison (Ari Wilford) are energetic roustabouts with as much appeal as their leader. Gordon Baird, as Hipockets Duncan, the put-upon radio station owner who believes in Holly when everyone else would rather hear country music, is just plain charming.

Three performers add sparkle and layers to what could easily be a boys-only show. Tajoura Davis, in a number of roles, has a rich voice that floats in our ears long after she's finished singing. The amazing Jackie Billows as Vi Petty, whose magical piano playing fingers could give Jerry Lee Lewis a run for his money, and Brett Wufson as Maria Elena, Buddy's wife, give us romantic and elegant performances in the midst of this rock 'n' roll hailstorm, and their strong performances remind us that women were much more a part of the beginnings of rock and roll than just audience members.

"Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" will be at Seacoast Repertory Theater (125 Bow St., Portsmouth ) through July 10. Shows are Thursday at 7:30, Friday at 8, Saturday at 4 and 8, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets, $32-$22, are available at the SRT box office or by calling 603-433-4472.