Theatre Harrisburg caps its 97th season with the laugh-riot musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” directed by Thomas G. Hostetter.
Within the first scene, it’s clear why both the original production and writers Rebecca Feldman and Rachel Sheinkin won so many awards, including a T-O-N-Y. Not only are the original pieces of the script hysterically funny, but you’ll find enough juicy additions and walk-on characters that make Theatre Harrisburg’s production different every time you see it. (And yes, this play is worth seeing multiple times.)
With the exception of a cameo appearance by Jesus, the entire cast of majestically awkward misfits amp up the weird with every scene, every line. This ensemble comedy is character-driven, with each of the exceptionally talented actors bringing forth their characters’ own brands of peculiar.
Set in a school’s gymnasium somewhere in Putnam County, we meet spelling bee coordinator and former champion Rona Lisa Peretti (Beth Darowish). Darowish brings her stage mom persona and her lyrical gifts to her character’s three-time signature song, “My Favorite Moment of the Bee.”
In this reviewer’s favorite moment of the bee, the cocky Chip Tolentino (Mitchell Young) sings “My Unfortunate Erection/Distraction” while dressed as an Eagle Scout. An excellent vocalist, Young communicates both his frustration and his inspiration through said song, stamping the show’s content PG-13, at best.
The most unabashedly eccentric bee contestant is Leaf Coneybear (Zach Roush), a fidgety, homeschooled boy who makes his own clothes. Bringing an adorable quality and a childlike approach to his role, Roush plays on the audience’s heartstrings with his song, “I’m Not That Smart.”
With his regrettable fashion sense and pocket protector, William Barfée (Joseph Chubb) plays a conceited nerd who does a bizarre dance that helps him spell. Chubb lays the intense dork persona on thick, singing through his nose about his “Magic Foot,” probably the most uncomfortable show tune I’ve ever heard (in a good way).
Equally intense, but more internally conflicted is overachiever Marcy Park (Skylar Gunning). In her strong voice, Gunning interprets the pressure Marcy feels in her songs, “I Speak Six Languages” and “Marcy’s Epiphany,” with a formidable energy that carries all the way through the play. Also feeling pressure to win, but from external sources, Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere (Tessa Arnold) has a drive to win ethically. For a little lady, Arnold commands her stage presence, delivering a powerfully voiced feature song in “Woe Is Me,” about her two fathers pushing her.
The lonely Olive Ostrovsky (Laney Dixon) may look like an ordinary elementary student on the surface, but her delivery of the song, “My Friend, the Dictionary,” and her quirky mannerisms make her character fit right in this eclectic bee. Dixon portrays Olive with a sweet shyness and a quiet longing as she straddles her worlds and searches for someone – anyone – to connect with.
In the play’s only poignantly sad moment, Darowish plays the emotional cameo role of Olive’s Mom, a woman reaching out to her young daughter across the miles when she could not physically be there. Standing on the other side of the world is Olive’s Dad (Manny Wilson). The parents pull their daughter back and forth while beautifully harmonizing the heartfelt, “The I Love You Song.” All three actors show their range between comedy and drama during this touching scene.
As a parolee doing his mandatory community service, Mitch Mahoney (Manny Wilson) is the only “cool kid” in the room, although he is an adult begrudgingly serving his duties as “comfort counselor.” As each speller is eliminated, Mahoney produces a juice box and an obligatory hug, consoling each child after their long walks of shame from the microphone. Together with the mostly unsympathetic VP Douglas Panch (Glenn Muir), I half expected oompa-loompas to appear from under the bleachers to boo and shoo away the bad spellers.
This is not the sort of production where you can sit back and relax. You may find your name drawn to be part of the spelling bee, or even a bee audience member singled out on the floor of the gymnasium. If you don’t take home the trophy, you’re in good company. All but one student leaves with the reminder that they may be good, but they weren’t good enough.
Whether you yourself were a word nerd who read the dictionary for fun, a poor speller eliminated on your first turn at the mic, or an overly self-assured speller (like this reviewer) who forgot the “O” at the end of H-E-L-L-O during the fourth-grade parochial school spelling bee finals, your ticket stubs can be your participation trophy for two hours of laughing.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” runs until June 25 at the Krevsky Center, 513 Hurlock Street, Harrisburg. For more information on show times and tickets, https://theatreharrisburg.com/shows/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee/.
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