THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

 

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Based upon Crepuscule, an original play by The Farm

Music and Lyrics by William Finn. Book by Rachel Sheinkin. Conceived by Rebecca Feldman. Additional Material by Jay Reiss. Director Nathan Patrech. Choreographer. Lachlan Ruffy. Musical director Samara Marinelli. Stage Manager Nikki Fitzgerald. Assistant Stage Manager Lucy van Dooren. Costume Designer Jennie Norberry. Lighting Designer Nikki Fitzgerald. Sound Designer James McPherson. Sound Operator Adrian Bury. Set Design Nathan Patrech and Ian Croker. Photography Ben Appleton-Photox. Program and Poster Design Lara Niven. Set construction Ian Croker. Canberra Philharmonic Society. ACT HUB. March 12-28 Bookings ACTHUB.COM.AU.

Reviewed by Peter Wilkins

 Michael Cooper as Douglas Panch and Amy Kowalczuk as Rona Peretti

and the Kidsin The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 

 After enjoying an evening of silliness, loudness and competitive mayhem at Philo’s production of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, I decided to find out the origins of the spelling bee. The first modern kids’ spelling bee was begun in Washington DC in 1925 when nine newspapers organized a spelling competition for children. The first winner was 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser from Louisville Kentucky who took home a massive $500 in gold pieces. Since then spelling bees have been held all over the world. Recently in Australia the competition was made popular by Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee in which adult celebrities and selected audience members face the challenge.

Dave Collins as William Barfee

 My first impression at the eponymous opening company number was of a silly rumbustuously lively and incredibly loud romp by an enormously talented cast who threw themselves into the story of the 25^th Annual County Putnam Spelling Bee with a barrel load of gusto. The energy was contagious. The characters appeared to have leapt out of Sesame Street and onto the intimate ACT HUB stage. The adults run the show while the kids compete to win the trophy. Host and former winner Rona Peretti (Amy Kowalczuk) is your typical small town socialite. Reformed gambling addict and High School vice principal Douglas Panch (Michael Cooper) reads out the words while parolee Mitch Mahoney (Tim Stiles) ushers out the losers with a Fruit Box for their efforts. All three are perfectly cast.

  Swing (Lachlan Nicholls) Rona (Amy Kowalczuk)

Olive Ostrovsky (Amelia Andersson-Nickson

In recent years I have remarked time and again on the excellent quality of musical theatre in Canberra and Queanbeyan. With The 25^th Annual County Putnam Spelling Bee full credit must go to director Nathan Patrech, musical director Samara Marinelli and choreographer Lachlan Ruffy for keeping the show moving along, the stage business active and interesting, the singing excellent and the choreography simple and appropriate for an adult cast, playing young children. The added effect of including a few members of the audience to take part at the start of the spelling bee also heightens the humour. It’s all done in good fun and the volunteers are soon despatched with a fruit box for their troubles by Mahoney.

  

The Kids in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

 

As the stakes get higher and the winner’s trophy becomes the holy grail the need becomes more earnest, and the spelling bee descends into frentic urgency as the company sings Pandemonium. We are witness to the underlying tensions and fears of the individual characters as one by one they receive their fruit box. What makes Philo’s production so commendable is the ability of the company to engage the audience fully in each character, much to the credit of every actor’s performance. Director Patrech has done what he says in the programme, “surround yourself with people more talented than yourself and get out of the way” That is the true talent of a great director. There is so much talent in this show that you could well believe that you have paid a bargain price for a top-notch professional show. Moving to the intimacy of the ACT HUB theatre helps, but it is the company’s command of acting and singing that really makes The 25^th Annual County Putnam Spelling Bee a resounding success.

Tim Stiles as Mitch Mahoney. Amelie Andersson-Nickson as Olive Ostrovsky

Amy Kowalczuk as Rona Peretti 

 

Every single performance is idiosyncratic, some hugely comical like Joe Mansell’s Leaf Coneybear. Some burst with manic energy, such as Meaghan Stewart’s Logainne Schwarzandgrubinnaire. There is a touch of the autistic to Ella Colquhoun’s  punctilious Marcy Park. Stirling Notley’s Chip Tolentino hits the highlight of embarrassment with Erection, the cause of his sorry rejection. Our hearts go out to the fragile plight of Amelia Andersson-Nickson’s insecure Olive Ostrovsky as she longs for her father to arrive at the contest. There is a certain pathos in Dave Collins’ performance of the misfit with the Magic Foot, William Barfee.

And there is deep tenderness in Kowalczuk’s rendition of Then I Love You Song directed with such tear- welling impact towards her young daughter, sitting in the front row on the night I went. She is joined by Andersson-Nickson and Stiles in a number that instantly dismisses any reservations I may have had at the start of the show that The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is nothing more than a piece of fun. William Finn’s range of styles and melodies to suit each character’s feelings takes us on an emotional journey that leaves us with a gentle glow in the heart. Rachel Sheinkin’s book remains true to Rebecca Feldman’s original conception. It may be peculiarly American in its style and humour, but Philo’s company of artists ensures that we perceive the universal humanity that lies at the heart of any competition, leaving us to judge the effect on young minds.

Canberra Philharmonic’s decision to move from its usual home at the Erindale Theatre to the more intimate and central venue of ACT HUB is the ideal decision for this show that is more Off Broadway than the more extravagant musicals. I would have preferred the show not to be miked, but that is my preference and miking is now the accepted technique. That aside, Canberra Philharmonic’s production of is another jewel in the crown of the company’s musical productions. 

Photos by Nathan Patrech