KidsOutAndAbout Reviews The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Blackfriars
by Michael Galvin
Witness the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in Blackfriars’ production of the very funny musical treat: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
It’s the most lugubrious (look it up) day of the year for somewhere-in-America Putnam County, as six quirky students vie for the coveted title of spelling bee champ and the out-sized trophy that goes with it. This is where legends are made and dreams are crushed. Isn't that what middle school is all about?
The stage is set in a gymnasium hung with mainly 2nd-place sports banners for the Putnam Valley Middle School Beavers (foreshadowing?). Moderator Rona Lisa Peretti a fast-on-her-feet Melanie McBride) is a very-together one-time bee winner gleefully looking forward to the carnage ahead. She’s partnered with nervous vice-principal Douglas Panch (Joseph Buck, practically vibrating with comic insecurity), there to pronounce challenge words and add useless guidance and Mitch Mahoney (Joseph Greenan), a recent parolee serving his court-mandated community service as the single least comforting comfort counselor in the history of comfort counselors.
The spellers file in: Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Savannah Devlin), a left-wing firebrand being raised by two ultra-competitive dads; last year’s champ Chip (Alexander Christie), locked in a losing battle with raging hormones; lonely Olive (Bridget Welch), desperately hoping her absentee father can make the bee; goofball Leaf Coneybear (Alec Ewing), only there because both the first and second place winners of his regional bee couldn’t make it; Marcy Park (Chloe Phelps), a too-perfect Catholic school girl who speaks six languages; and blowhard William Barfée (Garrison Hunt), an over-confident nerd with a magical spelling foot.
The kids are joined by three brave volunteers from the audience and the bee gets underway. It’s a fast ride. Words like capybara, qaymaqam and syzygy fill the air and seemingly written-on-the-spot quips are fired at the audience volunteers (my favorite was when McBride complained that a guy’s outfit of shorts and a zip-up sweatshirt gave no indication of the weather outside). Contestants are felled by nerves, hubris, untimely erections and the unfairness of the bee and/or life in general. The winner (NO SPOILERS HERE) gets glory. The losers are left with nothing but tears and a juice box handed them by the hilariously brooding Greenan.
The kids are played by members of the Blackfriars Theatre Summer Intensive Program (BTSI) and they’re all great. Hunt brings a delightful Nathan Lane-energy to ‘Magic Foot,’ Devlin is all spunk and indignation as she destroys the competition and dismantles the patriarchy and Christie gets some of the biggest laughs of the night as he seemingly hits puberty at just the perfect wrong time. The energetic Phelps embodies ambivalence as a girl trapped by her own achievements. Ewing, all capes and bike helmets, is fearless in Heelys (on risers, even!) as he belts out ‘I’m Not That Smart.’ Welch will break your heart as she sings about a fantasy world where her parents love and support her. Syzygy indeed.
Did I mention the cameo by Jesus? The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has a cameo by Jesus.
Blackfriars stalwart Danny Hoskins directs with a playful eye. I’m always impressed with how the theatre manages to get the most out of such a small space. In this production, there’s even room for audience members to sit on stage.
One word (!) of caution: With the puberty bit, this show probably not a great bet for little kids. I would say The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is most suitable for 13 and up.
This is a very silly show with some great music and a joyfully chaotic attitude. It’s highly recommended. What more do you want, elanguescence?
Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss. It’s at Blackfriars Theatre daily through Sunday, July 21, 2019. Click here for tickets.