[NEohioPAL] Review of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at Beck Center

[Bob Abelman]

Beck Center musical spells v-e-r-y f-u-n evening

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review appeared in the News-Herald 4/2/10

 

If you've ever watched ESPN's coverage of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, it's probably not because of the high-stakes competition of juvenile o-r-t-h-o-g-r-a-p-h-y (the art and science of spelling) or the thrill of learning new words, their definitions, their alternate meanings and their lands of origin.

 

No, you watch for the fun of it.

 

There is something disturbingly entertaining about seeing physically, socially and emotionally awkward adolescents perform within this annual survival-of-the-smartest pressure cooker. 

 

There's a perverse pleasure in witnessing very bright children tap their intellectual muses by talking into their armpit, finger-sketching the air, or phasing in and out of a near-comatose meditative state.

 

Real drama lurks between the issuance of a word and its spelled equivalent, in the stalling tactic of "can you use it in a sentence," and from the dreaded D-sharp peal that signifies a misspelling.  There is genuine melodrama in the departure of a fallen contestant, who is escorted off the stage by a supportive comfort counselor and into the arms of a very disappointed parent.

   

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee captures all the drama and all that is oddly entertaining about these competitions, and delivers it in the form of a Tony Award-winning musical comedy.  This is a delightful, thoroughly enjoyable show and the Beck Center for the Arts production, on stage until April 25, is absolutely fantastic. 

 

In Putnam County, we are introduced to Rona Lisa Perretti (Tricia Bestic), the Bee's announcer and a former champion; Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Jonathan Kronenberger), the pompous and parasitic word pronouncer; and the ex-con comfort counselor, Mitch Mahoney (Kyle Primous).  

 

The bee champion wannabes are six children, played by adults, who represent the collective foibles and phobias found on the ESPN telecasts.  There's the latchkey Olive Ostrovsky (Devon Meddock), the abrasive William Barfée (Patrick Ciamacco), the politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Kelly Smith), the overachieving Marcy Park (Robin Lee Gallo), the easily distracted Leaf Coneybear (Tim Allen), and the Boy Scout who carries a bone of contention, Chip Tolentino (Jude McCormick).

 

This is a stellar cast of local professionals and one former Putnam County cast member from the Broadway company, who accentuate every eccentricity and reflect child-like mannerisms and wonderment without venturing into caricature.  Each and every performer is well equipped to handle playwright Rachel Sheinkin's quick-witted banter, William Finn's clever lyrics and music, and the improvisations that result from bringing on stage several guest spellers from the audience.

 

The entire show is wonderful, but there are particularly remarkable moments worth noting.  One is the moving "The I Love You Song," that showcases Devon Meddock as Olive, and Tricia Bestic and Kyle Primous as Olive's distant parents.  Another is the hilarious "Magic Foot" production number, an ode to Barfée's unique spelling method, spearheaded by Patrick Ciamacco but performed by the ensemble. 

 

Everything Smith does while in the limelight and everything Allen does when he's not is brilliant.

 

Director Scott Spence delivers this production with his trademark heart, humor and quick pacing.  His core of talented designers, including Trad Burns (scene), Jenniver Sparano (costume), Joseph Carmola (lighting) and Richard Ingraham (sound), join forces to create the exaggerated look and feel of a cavernous high school gym.  Music director Larry Goodpaster and his small orchestra are superb.  Everything works.  

 

Live TV coverage of the 83rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee-this year's battle of the left-brained gladiators-doesn't begin until June 2.   By all means, pay a visit to Putnam County if you require more immediate g-r-a-t-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n. 

 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs through April 25 at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.    For tickets, which range from $17-$28, call 216-521-2540 x 10 or visit www.beckcenter.org.

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20100402/3de532ed/attachment-0003.htm>