It's a good thing "The History of Sex" doesn't live up to it's rather stodgy title, one that suggests another limp evening of fleshy and flimsy production show fragments pieced together.

And there have been plenty of those over the years such as the laugh-provoking and unforgettable "Nudes on Ice."

No, the new show at the Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., already is light-years better than that, even if it requires the fine-tuning and clearer focus that usually comes with time.

And with the Mirage Resorts Inc. advertising budget behind Broadway director/choreographer Ted Pappas' well-staged and creatively lighted Vegas debut, the mostly satisfying show won't get lost in the current tap-dance shuffle.

And word will spread that "History" is often quite clever with coy, double-entendre-laden lyrics sung to live music; big laughs from comic John Padon; and an attractive cast that features a dozen hard-working male and female dancers.

There's also the laudable Vegas debut of Broadway-honed ("Miss Saigon", "A Chorus Line") Michael Gruber whose clean lyrical baritone and comedic capabilities anchor this chronological look at humankind's fascination with sexuality from the Garden of Eden to your neighborhood gym.

Not that anyone gets down and nasty, or bares it all for that matter. The only real nudity in a show that bares as much male as female flesh comes from petite dancer Erin Fargo in a pair of topless moments and a male ensemble decked out in Navy whites.

Fargo briefly doffs her top in a sensual adagio as she plays Eve opposite Frank Daddaboo's Adam, replete with requisite apple and a post-munch, full-contact frolic that quickly fades to black.

It's the show's most daring visual moment that, coming so early on, could falsely herald even more nudity aside from Fargo's second bare-breasted visage in the finale of the 65-minute show. The early nudity will disappoint some customers, just as it will put others on edge fearing the show will become even more revealing.

It doesn't.

Hap Smith's bright seven-piece orchestra maintains a light touch on standards such as Cole Porter's "Let's Do It" (minus the "Lets Fall in Love"portion) playfully sung by Gruber with cute lyrical references to singer George Michael and President Clinton-hunting special prosecutor Kenneth Starr.

Gruber's principal counterpart, Candace Davis, has trophy-blonde looks and a vibrato-laden "Star Search" power voice that turns tough on the ears. She's at her best as a silent comic feigning disbelief while a dapper Gruber plays spy James Bond as total narcissist, primping himself with hidden hand mirrors while singing "Nobody Does it Better" -- to himself.

Gruber, sporting a spiked codpiece, even keeps a Marquis de Sade number from getting too tough with similarly lighthearted lyrics as three females in black patent-leather bustiers and Marie Antoinette-like wigs deal with his gentle rope-tugging demands.

Then comes a tango in red (David F. Segal's excellent lighting designs are eye-catching throughout) first spotlighting two men turning in a historically accurate and giggle-generating version of the dance that originated in South America. They are later joined by the bulk of the talented dance cast that features standout work from Scotty Nash, Jaime Lynch, Jennifer Hosey, Michael Davies and Jennifer Mrozik.

David Woolard's consistently alluring costumes range from traditional tuxedos to poodle skirts (for a '50s number set to "Great Balls of Fire"), regal gowns and tight workout togs. James Noone doesn't overdo special effects on the small stage in the tiered 400-seat showroom, and Pappas' strong choreography suits each era-specific segment.

A crucial onstage contributor is comic Padon, easily among Vegas' brightest practitioners who has risen from comedy clubs -- where he recently worked to good effect with local comic/juggler David Lucas -- to showroom opener and now featured act in "Sex."

He's Opie with attitude, using his clean-cut persona and easygoing presence to offset sharp-edged political observations. Don't worry, he slashes up both sides and adds applause-generating material on smoking, his Irish heritage and, of course, varied things linked to sex. Padon's winning 12-minute set comes just 20 minutes into the show and could add better balance by being broken down into a pair of slightly shorter sets.

Later, the young women get girlish in a teasing pajama-party number staged on a triple king-sized sloped bed, frolicking under a sheet while keeping bras hooked. The buffed-out boys drew delighted squeals from females when they marched through the crowd in white Navy dress uniforms and pranced away with only caps covering their ammo.

The show climaxes with a mirror-dance gym workout by the hip-hopping dance ensemble that brings it up to date and puts a modern spin on a colorfully creative, almost groundbreaking show that lacks a knockout number to make it a contender for "must see" status.

But thanks to its collective talent, a rich appealing look and improvement potential, big-budget "History of Sex" rises above average pieces of Vegas-warped sensuality.

And its increasingly rare under-$30 ticket price -- two drinks, tax and tip included -- helps warrant a semiguarded favorable nod for a show that currently is really a "tweener" on our rigid four-star rating system.

The adults-only affair plays nightly except Fridays at 7:30 and 10 for $29.95 with three-day advance sales available via the Golden Nugget's box office. Call 386-8100 for information.