That's the appeal of this musical, a reminder to all the adults in the audience that being a kid, especially a smart kid, is hard work. And for the kids, there's enough slightly naughty humor (a couple of swear words and the comedy classic "My Unfortunate Erection") to make the show seem at least as subversive as the average night of TV.

Of course, that's the theme of just about every young adult novel and reality show ever conceived: that nerd smarts can help you grow up enough to make the lessons of adolescence just about bearable.

There are few surprises in this predictable musical, for which one reviewer's summary as "A Chorus Line - with pimples" seems so apt that you have to repeat it. The original off-Broadway show, which was partly crafted out of the childhood memories of the original cast members, grew up into one of those "little shows that could" stories.

"Bee" launched a popular three-year Broadway run and earned two Tony awards before spawning this national tour.

Energetic is the best way to describe cast, particularly in the performances of the six 20-something actors who create the Bee's young spellers. The performers make the most of the thin material they've been given. There's little nuance or freshness on stage, but still the cast is mostly successful at extending the material of a one-joke sketch and an unmemorable score into a mostly pleasant 105-minute musical.

For the audience, one reward is recognizing yourself in the stereotypical characters, from Katie Boren's over-achieving Asian girl to Justin Keyes' oversexualized Boy Scout. Keyes gamely tosses candy and runs through the audience while delivering the erection song, the show's most shameless comedy come-on.

Standout performers include: Eric Roediger's Willam Barfee ("that's Bar-fee," he repeatedly reminds contest officials), the fat boy who's deathly allergic to peanuts and who works out spelling words with his magic feet; and Vanessa Ray's neglected Olive, the shy girl who feels overlooked by her spiritual-seeking mother.

Underused is the fine voice of Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who nails the show's most unexpected character, that of Mitch Mahoney. He's the Bee's comfort counselor, offering a juice box and hug to eliminated contestants as he ushers each off stage. On opening night, another pleasure was the comic timing of the well-chosen crew of local volunteer spellers. Earning the most applause was the deadpan humor of X-96 radio host Bill Allred, who enjoyed stealing the spotlight for a few minutes from the Bee's enabling adults.

"I overcomplicated," is how the lisping, elementary school gay-lesbian activist and deaf interpreter, Logainne, (Dana Steingold), explains to her two fathers why she lost. At its best, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" offers its sometimes simple-minded comedy as a reminder of what it means to be at the age where winning and losing really matters.

- ELLEN FAGG can be contacted at ellenf@sltrib.com or 801-257-8621. Send comments to livingeditor@sltrib.com.