Review: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE spells out Hilarity at Theatre Baton Rouge

There's no need to spell it out, but TBR's production of THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is pure theatrical h-i-l-a-r-i-t-y.

The 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, is a comedy musical that centers around a spelling bee competition set in the ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six unusual adolescent contestants are competing in the spelling bee, run by three equally strange grown-ups.

Hilarity ensues right from the start. As a unique way to review the show, I was selected along with three other audience members to participate in the spelling bee alongside the cast members. I was given a participant number and sat interspersed among the actors. It was an exciting way to become integrated into the show. Musical numbers were performed around us, and we also danced along with the participants at one point. Though my favorite part may have been sitting on the bleachers as they were spun around into another position on the stage.

Slowly, we were eliminated to move the plot along with the charmingly funny group of kids in the show. The last audience member when eliminated was serenaded by Mitch Mahoney (Ren Price) in his hilariously real version of "Prayer of the Comfort Counselor." Mahoney, assigned to his job as community service, is lovable and Price does a beautiful job showing the characters intimidation as well as endearment. Though I did not make it past my second round of spelling, I did leave with a consolation prize juice box in hand.

Directed by Lily McGill, the cast of PUTNAM SPELLING BEE works as an incredibly strong unit. Kaitlyn Stockwell plays Rona Lisa Peretti, the head lady in charge of the bee and a former champion. Compassionate, with a hint of mania in her enjoyment of eliminations, Stockwell sings often in the show, and her voice is wistful and smooth, ideally suited for the part.

William Barfee (Taylor Luke) is quite awkward and charming at the same time. A highlight of the show is his physicality when he explains why he spells out his words with his foot before he spells the words out loud in "Magic Foot."
Rebecca Smith plays the perfect Marcy Park. No, really. She's perfect. Smith is flawless in character, portraying her boredom with her exceptional talents in "I Speak Six Languages," while never appearing vain or superior. Park is just good at everything, and she's really over it.

One of the most adorable characters is Leaf Coneybear (Thomas Luke). With his homemade cape, Coneybear sticks out from the group. Luke imbues a sweet sadness to the character, as the audience learns his family continually calls him dumb in "I'm Not That Smart." However, despite Coneybear's lack of self-esteem and support, he proves that he belongs in the competition and develops some much-needed self-confidence.

Chip Tolentino, who won the bee last year and is the assumed favorite of the bee, is played with gumption and can-do spirit by Austin Ventura. Sadly, Chip is eliminated early and, in what is hands-down the funniest number in the show, Ventura sings "Chip's Lament." For the sake of audience enjoyment, I won't reveal the nature of the number, but I will say that Ventura brings much humor and the song is a knock-out act two opener.

Logainne Shwartzandgrubenierre (Emily Muller) is a lovable, spunky character, who has two over-bearing fathers. She sings about the enormous pressure they put on her to win in "Woe is Me." Muller takes on the task of creating a character with a speech impediment, while never losing a single word or lyric.

Olive Ostrovsky (Kaitlin Richard) is a sweet, soft-spoken character who has two largely absent parents. She sings a touching song, "My Friend, The Dictionary," which reflects on her loneliness and the comfort she has taken in words. However, it's in the second act of the show when Richard sings "The I Love You Song," that the full strength of her voice is known. It is beautiful and genuinely heart-wrenching as she imagines her parents attending the bee.

Last, but certainly not least, is Clay Donaldson as Douglas Panch, the official word announcer, whom we learn is returning to the bee after a five-year hiatus. Panch assures the audience he is 'in a better place now.' His job at the bee is to provide the words, their definitions, and use in a sentence. His examples are hysterical, each one funnier than the next. Donaldson makes an already hilarious show even better.

The TBR stage was positively transformed into the Putnam County High School gym. Set design was done by Kenneth Mayfield, which while simplistic, was able to bring a regular high school gym to life. To add a finishing touch, the stage was well lit by Lighting Designer Kathryn Steele.

TBR's production of PUTNAM SPELLING BEE is an otherwise faultless endeavor. The show is a solid, feel-good musical that hits all of your emotions and gives hearty laughs that are food for the soul. Who wins the competition? You will need to come and see for yourself. You most certainly will not be d-i-s-a-p-p-o-i-n-t-e-d!

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