25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE: A Musical Comedy. Book by Rachel Sheinkin, music and lyrics by William Finn, conceived by Rebecca Feldman and directed by Marilyn Langbehn. Willows Cabaret at the Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward Street in downtown Martinez, CA. (925) 798-1300 or www.willowstheatre.org.

August 17 – September 13, 2009.

SPELLING BEE FIRST PREVIEW REVIEW: A HIT

There is an unwritten rule that reviewers (critics too, there is a difference) should not review previews but director Marilyn Langbehn felt confident that her able cast was ready to meet the press and she was right. Thus, we journeyed to the charming Willows Cabaret and joined an appreciative sell-out crowd to laugh and at times groan at the exuberant production of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (hereafter to be known as Spelling Bee) that is sure to attract packed houses. The cast seemed to have as much or more fun than the audience since they emphasize the humor without fully developing the bittersweet pathos written into the text.

The 2005, the original Broadway production did received a Tony Award for Best Musical Book and a nomination for Best Original Score. In the intervening years, after the ubiquitous national tour, many local theatre groups recognizing the plays universal attraction have mounted successful productions. The laughs come fast and furious as the story line follows the tribulations of six juvenile contestants (all played by adults) in a spelling bee. The ethnic makeup of the group reflects a true mixture of local and national contestants while their eclectic nature provides laughs.

The contestants, in order of appearance, are: Chip Tolentino (Isaiah Boyd) last year’s spelling bee winner whose unexpected confrontation with puberty (he has a great song “My Unfortunate Erection”) leads him astray; William Barfée (Danny Cozart) who has a “magic foot” that led him to finals in last year’s contest before a peanut allergy did him in; Marcy Park (Cindy Im) who speaks six languages, sleeps only 3 hours a night and placed ninth in the nationals; Leaf Coneybear (Anthony W. Jackson) who has been always told he is not too smart but makes his own clothes; Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Casi Maggio) with two gay dads and an unseen BM (Birth Mother); Olive Ostrovsky (Vanessa Moyen) whose parents are not in attendance.

Ashley Jarrett as the Spelling Bee moderator Rona, gives a performance reminiscent of Dorothy Loudon and knows how to belt a song and do a double take. Kenneth “Kozi” Arrington has his moments as an ex-con doing community service as the “Official Comfort Counselor” and hands out juice boxes to losing students. It is Michael Ray Wisely as Vice Principal Douglas Panch who wins the supporting cast award for his subtle underplaying as a judge with unrequited love for Rona with a marvelous burst of self pity “causing an incident.” Four contestants are selected from the audience to participate in the bee as they take there place on the bleachers and one by one misspell a word, being ushered off the stage with the rousing song “Goodbye.”

There is an uneven quality in the acting but all are winners even though there is only one spelling bee winner. Scenes where each contestant learns that winning is not everything are touching, especially the rebellion against those who push their kids too far. There is need of specific definition of the staging that will surely be obtained by opening night. Who wins the spelling bee will not be revealed here. Running time less than 2 hours without intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.TheatreWorldInternetMagazine.com