Review - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

BAMS Theatre Presents

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music and Lyrics by William Finn and Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Directed by Michael Skelton

Musical Direction by Christine Leah

Assistant Director and Choreography - Kaitlyn Carlton

Band – Christine Leah, Cindy Ashton, Tegan Evans and Drew Sonter.

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is based on and original improvisational play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E that was performed by ‘The Farm’ a New York based group.  It is basically a staged spelling bee for early secondary schools students who are desperately competitive and fraught with angst and ambition.  Outside America it was first staged in Australia by Melbourne Theatre Company in 2006.

BAMS production is full of well-timed comedy.  It is so much fun to watch - a very polished and beautifully presented show that is surly great fun to be in.  This is probably partly due to the very real skill and experience of a number of its key talents.  Ian Maurice who plays Vice Principal Panch is truly a veteran performer with marvelous nuanced characterization and superb comic timing.  As Rona Lisa Peretti, Karen Mayfield is the perfect compare who sings like and angel.  And the Music is played marvelously by a very slick band/quartet under the skillful guidance of Musical Director Christine Leah.

Testament to Director Michael Skelton - this is an even-handed ‘well-oiled’ show.   Mr. Skelton is ably assisted by Kaitlyn Carlton in her role as Assistant Director.   Ms. Carton is also the Choreographer who uses a light whimsical touch that sees all performers looking confident and comfortable whenever dancing or moving in sync.

The cast is universally strong and there is a real sense of dedicated teamwork.  It is evident a great many hours of very focused work have gone into bringing this ‘fun evening at the Theatre’ to Beaudesert audiences. 

A number of locals from the audience are pre-designated to be spelling bee contestants.   This is an opportunity to incorporate local references and added laughs.

This show moves smoothly and very efficiently incorporates magic realism, to disclose the moving personal stories of contestants.  This is achieved through change of lighting, pace and style of acting and on all occasions’ works and is woven in seamlessly.

All characters are beautifully developed and the young mostly obsessive contestants fleshed out with flair.  Skyla Fishpool portrays a fascinating dark little almost Goth adolescent Marcy Park.   The girl, we all ultimately want to win - Olive Ostrovsky, is given just the right measure of humility and sensitivity by Katya Bryant.  Lauren Conway creates a grating brat character in her uptight Logainne Schwarzengrubenierre. Her two gay fathers, that is when they are not having a relationship crisis, dotingly focus on Logainne.  These Dads are hysterical. Their self-obsessed antics and problematic fathering are convincingly explored by Mitch Mahoney and Jarryd Pianca.  Lachlan Clark’s Chip Tolentino fumbles along in a way that is very evocative of an awkward growing boy.

Stunning community theatre.  If you have been meaning to catch a BAMS show this is certainly one to make it to.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)