If the recent heavy headlines and posturing politicians have got you down, then treat yourself and your family and friends to a fun, sassy little revue now playing at the White Barn in St. Helena.

It’s called “Secrets Every Traveler Should Know,” and who would have thought being trapped in customs, having lost luggage, getting frustrated by airline answering services, having to endure cruise talent shows, and suffering the revenge of foreign food could be the stuff of musical comedy? But they are (and then some) for the all-singing, all-dancing troupe of Kathi Brokemarkle, Suzi Gilbert, Linda Howard, Tim Setzer, Patrick Sprinkel and Michael Waterson, with rousing musical accompaniment by Nancy Garden and Ron Brunswick.

Airlines and rental cars come in for their share of ribbing: “Remember, if it’s a good flight, it’s a ‘Miracle!’ came the voice of a cheery commercial. A flight captain admonishes, “Will passengers please return their air attendants to an upright position!” And “Hertz” more often than not became “Hurts!” in a comic plaint.

The bawled ballad of “Please, Mr. Trailways” was equally fun, with a chorus of dancing bus terminal denizens (mezzo Gilbert accompanied by Setzer, Sprinkel and Waterson), and the once-popular slogan of “See America First!” got razzed for its resulting mishaps with bears, mosquitoes and campers by Brokemarkle and Setzer as ever-smiling tourists.

Nor was foreign travel immune. Gilbert got much laughter and applause for her pouting French chanteuse whose passionate song was “translated” into deadpan English by Howard. Howard sang the woes of every traveler with her comic torch song “What Did I Forget?” and she gave new meaning to lines from Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” with Waterson as her gin-soaked former husband.

Sprinkel was droll in his lament to lost luggage (“Naked in Pittsburgh”), sung in his boxer shorts, as well as his role as an anguished tourist returning from south-of-the-border in “Me and Marguerita.” Setzer’s sly way with words brought laughs in “Customs” and “Paradise Found,” and the entire troupe elicited whistles and cheers for its mock-merry Mozart rendition of “Salzburg.”

What is so fresh about the group is not only their zestful performances, but their clear articulation of all the puns in the many catchy lyrics and jaunty tunes. That is surely due to Garden as vocal coach and the energetic stage direction of Pam Rodgers. David Garden added a deft touch with his lighting, and Paul Stokey and Barbara Kelley framed the stage in travel-poster palms.

All in all, the little production is a suitcase of fun and smiles and will continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For reservations, call 251-8715. 

‘Secrets Every Traveler Should Know’

The White Barn

2727 Sulphur Springs Ave., St. Helena

May 4, 5, 8 p.m.

May 6, 3 p.m.

Tickets: $30

Box office: 251-8715