The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is exactly what it is, a Spelling Bee. And as it sounds, it’s a ridiculous evening full of quirky characters and hilarious musical numbers. We follow the journey of six young hopefuls as they navigate the pitfalls of puberty and the actualization of their expectations from the Bee.
Leaf Coneybear (Alex Borja) is a slightly spaced out possible Gemini who snaps into formation when he spells. Once the spelling demon leaves his body, he’s back to his silly one-liners. Logainne (Micaela Gorman) is battling the pressure from her overwhelming stage father, played by Elmer Strassor. Marcy Park (Kirsten Torkildsom) is in a similar situation, seemingly overachieving, but not really in it for herself. Chip (Zach Marshall) is last year’s reigning champion, but this year he’s struggling with his hormones/concentration.
The two who seem really in it for the passion of spelling are Olive (Emily Shea) and Barfee (a great performance by Hayley Kennen). Despite psychological burdens and sabotage from a certain Stage Dad, Olive and Barfee keep their heads held high as their passion for spelling overcomes their obstacles.
But as Mitch Mahoney croons in his fabulous monologue… life is full of disappointments. Those with the most passion don’t always win, or do they? Mitch is the security guard played wonderfully by Tyrone Woodraw. His moment of revelation is the most poignant point in the show.
Spelling Bee is directed by Mike Kasin. He handles the musical with precise pacing; it never lags, and keeps focus. It’s full of energy, and there’s not a dull moment. There’s an air of unpretentious creativity that really sells the show. From the first beat, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s lovely for that. It’s rare to find theater that doesn’t try to oversell itself.
For the first time at the Village Theatre, there’s a live band. Conductor Dean Starnes is also on piano, Randy Hood is on percussion, George Pascoe is on reed, and Myra Chachkin plays cello. The music and lyrics are by Michael Finn, and the story is by Rachel Sheinkin.
Spelling Bee is cute, charming, and quirky, and really shouldn’t be missed. Crew, actors, and musicians are all very promising, and it’s exciting to see what they will do next. The hope is that the Town of Danville provides more space for such fun and entertaining theater. The show is as cute as the town itself, making it a wonderful selection.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs at the Danville Village Theatre now until October 6. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.villagetheatreshows.com/events
