he Elizabethtown College theatre program successfully presented its spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” It was performed in Tempest Theatre throughout the weekend of April 11, 12 and 13th.
If words alone cannot express to someone how wonderful this musical is, the awards it has won will. “
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was adapted by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics composed by William Finn. The musical is based off of a book written by Rachel Sheinkin and it received the 2006 Tony award for best script of a musical.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
is a musical that not only keeps the audience’s attention but also involves them throughout the entire show. All the actors and actresses did an awesome job of interacting with the crowd.
The musical takes place in the Putnam County High School auditorium, home of the anthers. The musical reenacts a spelling bee and pokes fun at common jokes made at spelling competitions. It involves six “nerdy” kids, two equally as nerdy adults, a troublesome student, as well as three randomly selected people from the audience.
In the musical, audience members are asked to help in the production. While this is not a usual practice, it really added to the quirky feel of the musical.
Both the actors’ singing and pit band’s playing was spot on; the actors and actresses all had beautiful voices and the musicians did not miss a note. A lot of the songs were hilarious and had everyone in the audience laughing.
The performance was wonderful, but I can see how someone would not like this musical if they do not appreciate crude humor. The show, though about children, is for mature audiences.
“I really enjoyed the show. I thought it was really comical and it covered a lot of middle school troubles that many people have gone through. I think the only reason why people would not have liked it is because they did not understand the humor and the lighthearted theme of the musical,” first-year Karley Ice said.
At the end of the show, director Michael Swanson announced that anyone who wanted to meet or speak with the actors and actresses could wait in the Tempest Theatre. Swanson seemed pleased and rightly so, because the musical was a complete success.
“I think this year’s musical is great. It’s such a fun, high-energy show to be able to perform, as well as the audience to be involved with. It’s definitely comedic, but it has its more serious and thoughtful moments as well. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to perform in this show, it’s such a joy for me to be able to help tell this story to different audiences every night,” Theresa Forcellini, who played Olive Ostrovsky, said.
If you did not yet get a chance to see “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” it will be performed again at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18; Friday, April 19 and again at 2 p.m on Sunday, April 21. If you need a good laugh, get out and see this musical.
