The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Reviewed by Neal Weaver
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Through August 21

This cheery, lightweight musical — conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with a book by Rachel Scheinkin, and music and lyrics by William Finn (Falsettos, Falsettoland) — has a proven track-record as a crowd pleaser.

The show is set, as the title suggests, at a small town spelling bee in the gymnatorium of the local school, where kids (played by adult actors) vie for the chance to become finalists in the state and national bees, which offer greater rewards. Presiding over the proceedings are former winner and current realtor Rosa Lisa Peretti (Gina D’Acciaro) and the school’s vice principal Panch (Richard Van Slyke).

Act 1 features some lively musical numbers by director-choreographer Robert Marra, but not much plot, as the lesser contestants (played by audience members recruited and pressed into service) are routinely eliminated. Then, just before the end of the act, eager-beaver boy scout Chip (Joey Acuna Jr) is called upon to spell. He’s determined to win, but misspells his word partly because he’s visited by an untimely, unwanted and embarrassing erection just when he must stand up to the microphone and spell.

Act 2 is considerably stronger as the serious spellers must now begin to compete with each other. And they are a decidedly odd lot.  Logaine (Hannah Leventhal) is the daughter of two proud gay fathers, and the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at her middle school. Leaf (Robert Michael Parkinson) has no faith in his intellectual powers, but to his surprise and delight he keeps winning rounds. Marcy (Joy Regullano) is a polymath who not only speaks six languages but also dances and plays the violin, keyboards, and harmonica. But she’s tired of the pressure to excel exerted by her overachieving family, and is actually delighted when she loses.

Olive (Cristina Gerla) is an insecure young lady who’s distraught because her mother is off in India and her father has to work, and so may not be able to see her hoped-for triumph in the contest. Finally, Barfée (Stanton Kane Morales) is a neurotic and self-absorbed nerd with a will to win. But he’s seriously annoyed that everybody persists in pronouncing his name as “Barfy.”

It all comes to a folksy, satisfyingly happy ending, and a good time is had by all.

Unfortunately, director Marra has a tendency to go for the broad and obvious, but he has assembled an able cast who have solid voices and give it their all. Standouts are Morales, Acuna, Regullano, Gerla, D’Acciaro, and Van Slyke.

Jeff Cason designed the handsome set, A. Jeffrey Schoenberg supplies the colorful costumes, and Joe Lawrence provides solid musical direction.

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 2:30 p.m.  (626) 355-4318 or www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Running time: 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission.