There’s something in the water at George Washington Elementary — literally. A truck carrying sodium pentothal — a chemical also known as “truth serum” — has crashed into the local lake and spilled its cargo into the drinking water. Now everyone in school can’t help telling the truth. “I Cannot Tell a Lie at George Washington Elementary,” written and adapted for the stage by Brunswick resident Jim Adolf, is onstage at The Theater Project on August 14, 15 and 16.

Adolf, who works at Bowdoin College and is also a Theater Project board member, wrote, illustrated and self-published the short book a few years ago. It features a cast of middle school characters and the grownups around them.

Executive Director Wendy Poole asked Adolf to adapt his work for The Theater Project after reading the book.

“I was so taken with the humor in the story, and it completely fit with the way we work with our young actors. The scenes were fast and funny, and have a lot of energy to them. We are so excited to put Jim’s work onstage,” he said.

Directed by Theater Project alum and Denison theater student Meghan McGuire, the fourteen junior high actors featured in the play met for the first time in early August and began the creative process with theater games and improv exercises designed to help them get comfortable on stage, build characters and understand scene work. Together they have created an hour-long production fit for the whole family.

The Theater Project’s “I Cannot Tell a Lie at George Washington Elementary” is onstage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. All tickets are Pay- What-You-Want, with a suggested price of $6, and are available at www.theaterproject.com or by calling the box office at (207) 729-8584. The Theater Project is located at 14 School Street in Brunswick.