York Light Opera Company bring the comedy musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to York – and it’s a certified T-R-I-U-M-P-H.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with a book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn, buzzes its way into York this week.
The musical comedy centres on a fictional spelling bee, with an eclectic and quirky group of characters, and had its premiere on Broadway in 2005.
Now, over 20 years later, York Light Opera Company bring it to Theatre@41, Monkgate, with plenty of heart, laugh-out-loud moments, timely political digs, and fantastic vocals.
The auditorium at Theatre@41 is transformed into an American gymnasium; reminiscent of the current off-Broadway revival, it is complete with basketball hoop, juice boxes, a huge trophy, and adorned with USA flags.
The staging remains static throughout, with the cast themselves and some clever lighting choices transforming the space.
Director Neil Wood confidently leads the fast-paced show, expertly judged so that it never loses momentum but leaves space for us and the characters to breath. The four-piece band, led by musical director and pianist Martin Lay, matches this pace with astuteness and never feels obtrusive.
The ensemble cast of six mid-pubescent spellers are at the centre of the show – and what incredible heart each one of them bring. Every one exudes the childhood innocence and vulnerability of that transformative age, while bringing the playful mannerisms you exhibit before you care about who’s watching.
The characters are clear cut: Stephen Wright as know-it-all William Barfee (pronounced bar-FAY he’ll have you know) has an air of evil-genius-to-be complete with a magic foot, Daniel Wood as Leaf Coneybear is entirely endearing with a confident grasp of physical comedy, and James Dickinson as reigning champ Chip Tolentino is a jock experiencing the highs and lows of hormones.
The pressures that get put on children, especially by their parents, is most clearly shown through the female characters. Rosa Burns as Marcy Park has to be the best at everything, Lotty Farmer as lisping Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre has to be a ‘winner’ in the eyes of her Dads, and Hannah Shaw as shy and awkward Olive Ostrovsky just wants to be seen by her absentee parents.
Shaw’s portrayal as Olive is a particular highlight, and should be commended for performing in this heat in knitwear, and her pitch-perfect voice collectively breaks our hearts in ‘The I Love You Song’.
With an additional four spellers selected from the audience, the resulting audience participation is light-hearted and fun, and an impressive feat that the improv never feels forced – and the cast are quick-witted in their reactions when an audience member is particularly good at spelling.
The three adult roles bring plenty of comedic punch and some incredible vocals to match too. Neil Foster as Vice Principal Douglas Panch and Katie Brier as previous nine-year veteran of the Bee Rona Lisa Peretti are a perfectly matched double act with top notch improv skills that helps keep the competition on its wheels, and Brier’s clear, pristine vocals provide some beautiful moments.
Mikhail Lim as ‘comfort counsellor’ Mitch Mahoney is a standout from the second he steps on stage, ready to send off the spellers with a juice box and a reluctant hug. He brings through a genuine heartfelt portrayal, and a powerfully controlled vocal range.
On opening night there were a few mic issues, and a couple of occasions where the sound balance meant it was a struggle to fully make out what was being sung – a particular challenge in some of the faster complicated lyrics.
‘Life is pandemonium’ the musical tells us, and it doesn’t always go the way you expect or hope. But this show delights in the zany, surreal, and chaotic moments of life, all wrapped up in a spelling competition – that for these characters means absolutely everything. And for our time spent in the auditorium, it does for us too.
Bear the heat and come and enter the Bee – it’s a spelling test you won’t regret.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is at Theatre@41 until Saturday 4 July. Tickets are £18 and available via the theatre website.
