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Another School Caper at the Booth Theater
A Review by Jason Pendergast
(A note of discloser- I myself have been a Spelling Bee Survivor, though it was nothing like this…)
The Booth Theater opens for another season by taking us back to school—a popular choice in this venue based on its past plays—to witness the antics of these over-aged adolescents as they compete for the highly regarded statue and honor of being the Champion of the Bee. This being a musical comedy, we are introduced to these larger than life players through song and hilarious personal snippets that the vampish Bee coordinator Rona Peretti (Melissa Waterbury) and “under promoted” Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Conor Daniel Bartram) get to broadcast over the mike. (They easily get the best lines- everything from the bizarrely inaccurate descriptions of the contestants to Panch’s increasingly annoyed--- and unhelpful--- vocabulary definitions gave me a smile. Also on board as an “adult” is former juvie, current social working thug Mitch Mahoney (Regan Featherstone), who has changed his handcuffs for hugs as he works on his rehabilitation. (I noticed that most of the gay audience liked to see him comfort the “losers” of the bee…)
And then we come to the children… These have to be some of the most seriously dysfunctional players that I have ever seen. We have a crossed eyed (or is it A C O U C H I ‘ed) superhero wannabe Leaf Coneybear (Nick Resca). Snitty, pushed to perfection but ready to explode Marcy Parks (Courtney Sowinski). I quite enjoyed her final act of rebellion, especially since it involved Mitch. Also in attendance is a boy scout about to become a man (at least hormonally) Chip Talentino (Trevor Disderis); strange foot writer William Barfee (Jon Basla who shows off some acrobatics on stage); sweet neglected but determined Olive Ostrovosky (Courtney Summers) and finally future PFLAG coordinator Logainne (Leann Pulvermiller).
The basic plot, show through songs and asides, is the motivation each of these have for wanting the prize. (Or in at least one case, not wanting the prize). The songs work well, most are brief but get the point across and each of the players gets a chance to shine. I personally enjoyed “Chip’s Lament” about his erection and Olive’s mournful pieces. Throw in a couple of devious gay dads, a peanuts allergy, a coordinator who won’t let her glory days go away and a cameo from Jesus and you pretty much get the idea.
For something that is (on the surface) a sweet kids play, there is a fair amount of deeper, more adult humor if you pay attention. (Think most Disney flicks…). In addition to the gay dads subplot, we got a stalker of a VP, hormonal teens, man hugs and a kid dropping his zuuzuu in jail and debating picking it up--- and that is just the gay stuff. Also if you are a word buff, you may find some of the choices in this play entertaining. (I knew of Qaimaqam and would have challenged the spell checker on Vug/Vugg.)
So if you are having a cow, and need to feel R-E-G-E-N-E-R-A-T-E-D, you may find a trip to a spelling bee would be just what you need. It runs Tuesday through Saturday nights at 8pm in July.
