How good is Rachel Sheinkin's book "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee?"

It's so good that I found myself wanting to help the child spellers (played by adult actors) Thursday night on stage get their words out. I even caught myself several times mouthing letters to several of the words.

There's a reason why Sheinkin won a Tony Award for her script, which tells the story of a spelling bee and the kids who compete in it. And, oh yeah, William Finn's music and lyrics are pretty good, too.

Combined with TADA Theatre's talented cast, "Putnam" is a summer show that's not to be missed. It's one of TADA's and director Robert D. Rook's better efforts, and that's saying something considering how many shows the local company has produced over the years.

There's not a weak link in the cast, which includes Stuart Richey, Ashley Andersen, Michael Trutna, Matt Works, Claire Frahm, Natalie Tavlin, Nicholas Soutsos, William Maltas and Cris Rook.

Especially noteworthy is Works, who steals many of his scenes as the confident nerd who spells with his foot.

Each show features four guest spellers from the audience who agree beforehand to participate. The audience interaction gives it a fun and funny twist.

I couldn't tell if jokes involving guest spellers were from the script or if director Rook, a former stand-up comic, improvised them. I think it was a little of both. One mustached guest speller, who had a Tom Sellecklike look, was said to be a member of the "Magnum P.I. fan club." Very funny.

Of course, what makes the show are the actors playing types. There's a know-it-all who feels overwhelmed by high expectations and another contestant who believes he's not smart enough to be there. They possess feelings we all have had at one time or another in situations similar to spelling bees.

The music, too, is telling. Watch for a particularly poignant piece - "The I Love You Song" - performed by Frahm, Soutsos and Cris Rook. It triggers emotion.

A spelling bee winner is crowned, but in the end it doesn't matter because it's the audience that comes away victorious in this one.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.