Some do it because they have no choice. Others do it because it?s exactly what they want to do.

Those two extremes, and everything in between, is what "Working" is all about. The musical adaptation of Studs Terkel?s legendary book is surprisingly and subtlety effective in telling the stories of people telling, in their own words, what they do for a living and why they do it.

In theory, the Lex-Ham Community Theater?s staging of "Working"? running through Nov. 28 at the Landmark Center downtown ? is an amateur production.

The seven actors all are volunteers, but you wouldn?t know it from the results.

Almost without exception, they display genuine respect for the real people they portray. It pays off in their performances, as they throw themselves into their characters both physically and emotionally.

"Working" is being performed at the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., Saint Paul, on Nov. 19, 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 21 and 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $11 for children, students and seniors age 65 or older; $14 for others. Group discounts are available. For information, call 651-644-3366.

The actors take on multiple roles with few glitches. Becky Lowe as "just a housewife" and Erin McCawley-Richeson as "just a waitress" are among highlights, but each cast member has at least one stellar performance ? Brian Farrey as a firefighter, Ann Griffith as a teacher, Nathan Metcalf as a parking valet, Roseanne Tripi as a cleaning woman, Paul Whittemore as a tradesman who follows his father?s footsteps, but hopes his son doesn?t follow his.

The staging is simple and effective ? a few multipurpose wooden crates and symbolic props. Plain navy slacks and blue mechanic shirts are essentially it for costumes (with the added touch of the actor?s name in an oval patch over the left pocket). Then there?s the clock ? always there, surrounding everything.

Accents, choreography and choral singing are not always up to Guthrie standards, but the ensemble is consistently solid and entertaining.

Director Suzanna Winter seamlessly adds references to technological, workplace and political "developments" that couldn?t have existed in Terkel?s 30-year-old book ? email, work cubicles, "paper or plastic" at the grocery store. But most of the stories are timeless, and it?s refreshing ? in an era when the stock market is portrayed as our future and our salvation ? that normal, everyday work is celebrated in this way.

The stage version of "Working" doesn?t offer the breadth of Terkel?s collection of oral histories (and, frankly, what could?). It also refuses to act as a grand working-class manifesto. But it does bring out at least a few of Terkel?s underlying themes, even if there is no plot to follow.

The lyricists, led by Broadway veteran Stephen Schwartz, are amazingly successful in transforming real stories into an evening of comedy, amusement and emotion. The characters and the songs capture the regrets, the joys, the compromises, the sacrifices, the monotony and the creativity that we all deal with one way or another on our jobs ? to say nothing of the rules we break, the legacy we hope we leave, the dreams we never quite forget.

The musical shines a light on our basic yearning to be recognized and respected for the contributions we do make, no matter how small or monumental. It erases the gap between the artificial status accorded some jobs and the scorn saddled upon others. It demonstrates that any job well done can be an art in itself, even if the people doing it are essentially invisible, even when you come face to face with them.

The simple truths, the tiny secrets, the harsh realities ? they all seep through in songs that will have you slightly nodding your head as you recognize, yeah, that?s the way it really is.

Paul Whittemore and Erin McCawley-Richeson rehearse a scene in the Lex-Ham Community Theater production of "Working." Union Advocate photo