The opening number of "The Kid," the New Group's musicalization of Village Voice sex columnist Dan Savage's book of the same name, shows Dan, the man with all the answers, soon to be facing a problem of his own.

He and his lover of two years have decided to adopt: what obstacles lie ahead?
The original source material appears to have been a first-person narrative, and book writer Michael Zam has remained faithful to the memoir. We are told that Dan and his lover fight often. We never actually see them get into it, though we do see them make up several times. We are told of the hostility anticipated at the adoption agency, but the only outburst of homophobic vitriol comes from Dan himself. Meanwhile the adoption agency worker, played by Susan Blackwell, simply tells him, "Your application is accepted."

And so it goes for two-and-a-half hours. At the end of it, the men get their baby. They tell you about that, too.

With the story given such light treatment, it is up to the actors to put the play over, and they succeed brilliantly. Broadway veteran Christopher Sieber carries most of the show. His portrayal as Dan is likable for his strength of character. Lucas Steele as Dan's lover, Terry gets to show range in going from the peak of his party years to becoming a young parent.

The play gets much more interesting once the couple meets Melissa, the mother-to-be of their future son. Melissa is homeless drug addict, played by Jeannine Frumess with a sense of reality both tender and heartbreaking, and giving her baby for adoption may be the only good thing she may do in her life.
Jill Eikenberry as Dan's mother, Judy brings a grounded sensibility to the scenario. While in this staging, we gather that Dan and his partner want merely to "have a kid," Judy's inherent parental ability gives assurance that the child will be well looked after, too.

Much of the show is musicalized, with over 20 songs, with music and lyrics by Andy Monroe and Jack Lechner, respectively. Lechner's lyrics are often quick and clever, and Monroe's tunes are always a pleasure to hear, even if they won't always follow you home.

"The Kid" is in its final week at the Acorn Theater at Theatre Row at 410 West 42nd Street, so if you hope to see it, move fast.

Remaining performances, at this writing, are on May 25 at 7 p.m., 26 to 28 at 8 p.m., and 29 at 2 and 8 p.m. For tickets at $60, visit www.TheKidTheMusical.com or telephone 212/279-4200.