The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Review by Celia Ipiotis

Remember when children were consulting dictionaries for school work instead of Claud or spell check? Or when schools organized Spelling Bees attended by parents and friends? Those nostalgic, high stakes competitions are back in the revival of the The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the New World Stages. This heart-warming musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin is winsomely directed by James Lapine. 

Under gymnasium style white lights, a motley selection of 7 children enter with  names plaques hanging around their necks. Each competitor has a special spelling “gift” that ranges from using a foot to draw the letters, writing on one’s arm, memorizing  the dictionary, and so on. All these idiosyncrasies quickly endear the actors to the audience. 

A glamorous former winner of the 3rd annual spelling bee and a realtor, Ms Rona (Lisa Peretti,) organizes the events along with the bespeckled Vice Principal (wanna be principal) Mr. Panch (Jason Kravits). To wrap it up, a “comfort counselor” the brawny Mitch Mahoney (Matt Manuel) cheers everyone on.

The irresistible Jasmine Amy Rogers who starred in BOOP on Broadway was replaced by Emily N. Rudolph in a low-keyed, sweet interpretation of an insecure young girl desperate for her father’s acceptance. Of course, all the intense junior high students are played by adult actors.

Before the competition begins, 4 audience members are pulled into the spelling bee line-up resulting in some quite humorous results. Each time a student steps up to spell, there’s a digression into the scarier thoughts milling around their minds. Approval is key, and one way or another, each student pines to be seen and loved.

The mosaic of competitors ranges from the spelling whiz Marcy Park (a super Leana Rae) who gets no satisfaction from winning and the incumbent Chip Tolentino (Philippe Arroyo) who can’t decide if bing the incumbent makes him cool or not.

Unerringly, Finn’s lyrics, soak in emotion, extend the text and forge a touchingly timeless work.

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis