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Theater review: ‘Spelling Bee’ is a must-see

By Brad Memberto/Staff Writer/bmemberto@santamariatimes.com

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Brian Rickel, center, revels in his role as William Barfee in PCPA’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The comic musical runs through July 11 at the Marian Theater in Santa Maria, and then from July 17 through Aug. 2 at the Solvang Theaterfest. / Craig Shafer/PCPA/Contributor

On opening night at the PCPA production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” there was one serious flaw. That was the fact that the show opened in front of a small crowd.

Several regulars at the Marian Theater, for some reason, did not show up. Perhaps it was because they were not familiar with the show.

Shame on them, because they missed a terrific, charming and hilarious musical.

With several local references and audience participation, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” should be a must see for your summer plans.

Unless you saw the show in New York or in its one national tour in theaters in the big city, this show will be a brand-new and wonderful experience.

Which is why several regulars probably took the night off. Trust me: When Artistic Director Mark Booher and his staff put together a season and one or two of the plays are unfamiliar, do not fret. They know what they are doing.

Not knowing a thing about the play most likely gave me more reason to love it, because everything about “Spelling Bee” was a surprise.

With a Tony-winning book by playwright Rachel Sheinkin in 2005, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a very funny play about a fictitious contest featuring six memorable contestants and four audience members vying for a spot in the national bee in Washington.

Yes — four people from the actual audience are chosen right before the curtain to participate in the show.

Under the outstanding direction of PCPA Conservatory Director Roger DeLaurier, the cast is led by a pair of adults through the contest as they break into songs about their lives, and all are given tremendous dialogue to bring the show its heart.

Bree Murphy plays Rona Lisa Peretti, a real estate agent who runs the Bee. A very talented comedienne, Murphy makes a grand entrance through the audience and helps keep the show interactive. And man, can she sing.

Murphy — well known for her numerous uproarious performances at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano — is extremely funny, with a breezy delivery that is truly enduring.

Murphy is joined by Eric Bishop as Vice Principal Panch. Bishop plays Panch as an uptight and droll man, and is brilliant in portraying his blandness. He is also given the funniest lines in the play when contestants ask for definitions of the words and their use in a sentence. They are each delivered with a straight face that makes the sentences even funnier.

The contestants are a strange but lovable lot. Chip Tolentino (Michael Sky Moon) is an earnest Boy Scout who is dealing in his impending manhood; Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Lexy Fridell) is a pig-tailed ball of fire with two dads and a lisp; Leaf Coneybear (Jeff Boyce) is a true space case; William Barfee (Brian Rickel) is a strange and disturbingly funny nerd; Marcy Park (Emilee Furmanski) is an uptight perfectionist; and Olive Ostrovsky (Kiera O’Neil) is a young plain Jane type with parental abandonment issues.

O’Neil is a very good actress who possesses a quality that pulls the audience in to her heartbreak and uneasiness. She is also the choreographer for the play and does a good job getting her energetic cast to really move about the stage.

The cast is rounded out by Mitch Mahoney, played wonderfully by Jay Donnell. Mitch is the reluctant sergeant-at-arms of the Bee — as part of his community service. He is at times menacing and at times endearing.

Each cast member is given a lot of room to shine, and they all do.

There are not many songs written by William Finn that one will leave the theater humming, but they will remember how funny and sometimes touching they were.

Highlights are “Pandemonium,” “I’m Not That Smart,” “My Unfortunate Erection (Chip’s Lament)” and “The I Love You Song.”

Murphy, Boyce, Sky Moon and Donnell all appear as different characters, and are quite effective in doing so.

The work of Scenic Designer Andrew Layton, Costume Designer Juliane Starks, Lighting Designer Colleen Albrecht and Sound Designer Walter T.J. Clissen all are brilliantly blended together, which makes the show even more magical. Credit is not given to the props, but they were outstanding and added much to the production.

I really L-O-V-E-D “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and if you had any doubts about going to see it, throw those to the wind and go buy tickets right N-O-W.

BOX OFFICE

TIMES: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” runs through July 11 at the Marian Theater in Santa Maria. Show times are matinees at 2 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; and at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There will be no show July 4.

The show will play from July 17 to Aug. 2 at the Solvang Theaterfest.

TICKETS: Tickets cost $27.25 to $31 for adults, $24.55 to $27.95 for seniors, and $17.25 to $19.25 for students.

CONTACT: For information or to order tickets, call the PCPA Box office at 922-8313.