It can be fascinating, particularly if you’re reading this review on your cell phone, to consider how many inventions are used in ways now that couldn’t possibly have been foreseen when they were originally developed.

Radio, for instance, was initially explored as the next step in person-to-person communication, an upgrade to the telegraph (it was often called radio telegraphy at first).

But in 1919, when inventor Frank Conrad started entertaining local listeners with songs played on a phonograph over his tiny, garage-based radio station outside Pittsburgh, he gave birth to broadcasting as we know it today.

Conrad’s story and, more significantly, the story of how his wife, Flora, continually pushed him forward in his career, are told in the musical, “On Air,” currently playing on Virginia Rep’s Hanover Tavern stage.

Within its humble aspirations, “On Air” succeeds quite charmingly, thanks largely to actor Emily Dandridge’s diversity of talents and solid performances from the rest of the cast. But, while effective in relating the Conrads’ story, the show struggles to reach for a broader theme that would add deeper resonance.

Dandridge plays Flora who is depicted as the aggressor from the beginning of her relationship with Frank (Colton Needles), approaching him at a community dance. As the couple sings in “As We Dance on Air,” this early scene establishes a dual meaning for the title. With her experience in ballet and the help of choreography from her husband, Paul Dandridge, Emily’s graceful movements during the couple’s dance scenes are a highlight.

Needles convincingly portrays the science-obsessed Conrad as an endearing nebbish with a surprisingly powerful voice when given the room to cut loose. But the story hamstrings the character into a workaholic box, making him too remote to earn much empathy. Director Todd Norris reinforces this by facing him away from the audience most of the time while he’s toiling away at his radio gear.

Conrad was assisted in his obsession by his boss and friend at Westinghouse, Harry P. Davis (Neal Gallini-Burdick). While largely ignored at home, Flora strikes up a friendship with Harry’s wife, Angela (Taylor Baltimore), who eventually joins her in supporting the burgeoning women’s suffrage movement.

Gallini-Burdick and Baltimore both contribute welcome sparks of energy as the Davises and other ensemble characters. As the Conrads’ son Frank, Aiden Denton (alternating in the role with Eli Davis) adds a nice element of adorableness. And a last-minute appearance by David Janosik delivers a satisfying final surprise to the story.

To its credit, the script highlights Flora’s innovations, such as pushing their blossoming broadcasting interests toward covering the results of the 1920 presidential election, the first in which women could vote.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t go very far in exploring issues of radio’s impact beyond the lives of the Conrads, while also not putting much meat on the bones of the Conrads’ relationship. Beyond Flora’s frustration about Frank’s long hours at work, we know little about the couple; their two other children end up relegated to the cutting room floor.

The generally peppy score is well-rendered in recordings by music director Elle Meerovich but the additional power of live music is evidenced by Dandridge’s ukulele accompaniment on a couple selections. The most engaging song of the show has no musical accompaniment at all: the beautiful Dandridge/Baltimore duet on “Silent Night,” performed a cappella.

“On Air” comes from the same development team involved in creating the regrettable “Silver Belles” that Virginia Rep produced at the end of 2023, with Matt Conner composing the music and Stephen Gregory Smith writing the book.

This show has much more appeal than “Belles” and, as I left the theater, I heard two different patrons remark, “That was cute.” I would go further in saying “On Air” delivers an engaging slice of history with plenty of snappy musicality that gives skilled performers material to enhance. But, to borrow from one of its song titles, it’s hard not to wish the show went even “A Little Further.”

“On Air” runs at Virginia Rep’s Hanover Tavern stage, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Rd., until April 14. Tickets and more information available at https://va-rep.org/.