The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of those musicals I have returned to many times as a listener, yet until now I had never had the opportunity to see it on stage. On the page—or rather, through the cast recording—it had never struck me as that funny. However, VAMPS of St Neots’ production revealed it to be far funnier than I had anticipated: a genuinely hilarious piece of musical theatre, presented with confidence and impeccable comic flair.

The setting was simple yet highly effective: a well-constructed bank of high-school bleachers, a backdrop of an American school gymnasium, and a judges’ table complete with bell. It created a clear sense of location without unnecessary embellishment, allowing the characters and comedy to take centre stage.

Even before the performance had properly begun, the audience was drawn into the spirit of the evening. On entering the auditorium, I was asked whether I would like to participate in the spelling bee myself. Fortunately, I declined—only later discovering that four audience members would be summoned at the start of the show to take part in the competition. I did not catch the names of the four brave individuals who became part of that afternoon’s cast, but their presence added an extra dimension of spontaneity and hilarity to the proceedings. It would certainly mean that every show would have been unique and the cast adapted well to work with their new cast members!

This is very much an ensemble piece, and one of the great strengths of the musical lies in the fact that each character is given their own distinct moment to shine. VAMPS of St Neots embraced that balance superbly. Every performer played their role with conviction and energy, and each contribution felt essential to the success of the production as a whole.

Among the many highlights were Dean Ansell as Leaf Coneybear and Huw Nadin as William Barfée. Both performances were larger than life, with the two actors—both closer to my own age than to that of the children they portrayed—throwing themselves into their roles with infectious energy. Dean’s exuberant physicality, darting across the stage in his spaceman cape and helmet, was so funny, while Huw’s deadpan seriousness and wonderfully executed “magic foot” made Barfée an unforgettable comic creation. I was also particularly impressed by Molly Gregorious as Rona Lisa Peretti, the former spelling champion turned hostess of the bee. Her vocals were strong and assured, and she captured beautifully the character’s poised exterior and simmering undercurrent of aggression.

Special mention must also go to Amy Outhwaite as Olive Ostrovsky, one of the more understated characters in the piece, yet arguably the one with the greatest emotional depth. Amy brought a quiet sincerity and strong stage presence to the role, and her performance of Olive’s poignant song about her absentee parents —also played by Molly and Huw—was handled with considerable sensitivity. The harmonies at the close of the number were especially beautiful and provided one of the production’s vocal highlights.

The strength of the remaining performances only reinforced the overall quality of the ensemble. Kacey Munns as Chip Tolentino, Naomi Mallabone as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, Jen Nicholls as Marcy Park, Olivia La Roche as Mitch Mahoney, and Tom Monkhouse as Vice Principal Douglas Panch all made vivid and memorable contributions. Congratulations are due to all involved. This was a stellar production: musically strong, impeccable comedic timing and full of wonderfully judged physical theatre. VAMPS of St Neots delivered a show of great charm, energy, and theatrical flair, and both cast and crew should be immensely proud of the result.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.