Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Directed by Nathan Patrech
Canberra Philharmonic Society (Philo) production
Act Hub Theatre, Kingston to 18 March
Reviewed by Len Power 12 March 2026
Using the ACTHub Theatre for this smaller scale musical was a clever move by Philo. The 100 year old Causeway Hall at Kingston provided the perfect atmosphere for the plot of the show.
A bunch of quirky students from various American elementary schools come together at Putnam County school to compete in a spelling competition (the ‘Bee’), which is run by three equally quirky adults.
The show might be quirky, but it needs a strong cast who can bring these colourful characters to life as well as handle the vocally demanding score. Everyone in this cast is more than up to the challenge and make the most of their individual moments to shine.
The ensemble performances of Amelia Andesson-Nickson, Dave Collins, Meaghan Stewart, Joe Mansell, Ella Colquhoun, Stirling Notley, Hannah Miller and Lachlan Nicholls as the students were excellent.
Director, Nathan Patrech, has staged the show simply. He allows the actors to have a lot of fun as adults playing adolescents, but the show is disciplined and fast-paced.
Of the adult characters running the Bee, Amy Kowalczuk is outstanding as Rona Peretti. It was good to hear this accomplished actress singing in a musical again. Tim Stiles gave a fine performance as the strong, but sensitive ex-convict and now Comfort Councillor, Mitch Mahony. Michael Cooper was very funny as Douglas Panch, the Vice Principal, with his officious and edgy performance as the word pronouncer.
Music director, Samara Marinelli, has obtained fine vocal performances from everyone in the cast. Lachlan Ruffy provided strong choreography that suited the individual characters. Jennie Norbury’s costumes looked very funny and somehow were worn just right by the students. The adults’ costumes were well chosen for a school function.
This is a funny, very noisy show with memorable characters. Before the show, audience members are given the opportunity to put their names down to participate onstage in the spelling competition. The three people selected on opening night clearly had a lot of fun and were pretty good spellers, too.
Len Power's reviews are also
broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and
published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
