Musical comedy features first-time director Carter Edward Smith in an auspicious debut

W-I-N-N-E-R”

If you correctly spelled the current offering at Vintage Theatre, you have successfully advanced in The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee competition. This unique 2005 musical, filled with an abundance of strong characters and inspired musical numbers, is the delightful creation of Rachel Sheinkin, with music and lyrics by Willam Finn. Local stage favorite Carter Edward Smith leads the production in a remarkable directorial debut.

We all remember the trials and tribulations of middle school, don’t we? Spelling Bee takes us back to those unsettling days, humorously illuminating them while introducing us to six idiosyncratic adolescents and three adults in charge of the competition. Adding to this over-the-top spelldown, strangers from the audience are also called upon to participate in the proceedings.

Rona Lisa Perretti (Anna Hardcastle) opens the evening with a nostalgic trip down memory lane. A previous spelling bee champ herself, she now returns to facilitate the proceedings for a new group of brainiacs. Along with Ms. Perretti are Vice-Principal Douglas Panch (Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry), back after a mysterious five-year absence from the competition, and recently paroled Mitch Mahoney (Justin Milner), doing community service and in charge of distributing juice bottles to those who misspell.

Ms. Perretti calls forward each contender to spell what is usually an absurdly tricky word. She momentarily allows each speller to shine center stage, including the innocent audience members who are now part of the action and are first offered mistake-proof words such as “dog.” Kudos to the brave audience members for allowing us to laugh with them at their unscripted participation.

Charlotte Quinn in ‘Spelling Bee’ | Photo: Matthew Gale Photography

The spellers

First up is Leaf Coneybear (Michael Spahn), who not only feels hopelessly out of place in the spelling bee but can only spell when he goes into a trance. Olive Ostrovsky (Ava Arangua Francis) is next, followed by William Barfee’ (Grant Bowman), who continually reminds us that his name is not pronounced Bar-fee, but rather Bar-fay. Yes, sir!

Also in the line-up are Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere (Lily Horst), Marcy Park (Charlotte Quinn) and the unfortunate Chip Tolentino (Andrew Wilson, Jr.), who is plagued by an untimely erection that almost prevents him from taking center stage. Ultimately, he misspells his word and is summarily dismissed from the competition, only to be forced to sell candy and snacks during intermission while holding his head in shame.

Act Two is filled with more staggering spelling words and additional insights into the individual competitors as they progress and are ultimately eliminated. By the end of the competition, we are left with two participants who each desperately want to win but are swayed by an emotional link that no one saw coming. Finally, we have a winner, and the spelling bee concludes on a high note.

Grant Bowman center, left top to bottom: Andrew Wilson Jr. and Ava Arangua Francis, Right side (top to bottom): Michael Spahn Lily Horst and Charlotte Quinn | Photo: Matthew Gale Photography

Solid cast

The entire cast is commendable, starting with Hardcastle as Ms. Perretti and Rahmsdorff-Terry as Vice-Principal Panch. Each set the appropriate tone for the upcoming competition with sardonic characters on the lookout for the next spelling champion.

Other standouts include Bowman as Barfee’ who sings “Magic Foot,” explaining his spelling technique using his feet, and Wilson Jr. as Chip, who must return to the gymnasium at the beginning of the second act to sing the revelatory “My Unfortunate Erection.”

Carter Edward Smith receives an A+ for his directorial debut with a keen eye for bringing a full-bodied musical to life through a series of character-inspired vignettes. He allows each performer to shine by giving everyone their moment in the spotlight and does not allow the darker moments of the script to overshadow the bright fun on stage — although these moments are never trivialized. He masterfully connects the onstage antics with a wink and nod toward the audience, almost as an additional unscripted character being those in attendance at the spelling bee. It is an auspicious beginning for Smith.

As one of the final entries for its current season, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee allows Vintage to showcase many outstanding newcomers to its stage, several seasoned returnees, and director Smith leading the pack. Playing through June 9, Spelling Bee is supercharged likely to amuse and delight everyone attending the bee.