Review: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE by Porirua Little Theatre

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin. Premiering Off-Broadway in 2005, it quickly became a hit, winning the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. The show is renowned for its quirky humour, lovable characters, intimate cast, and audience participation.

The story follows a group of eccentric middle-school students competing in a spelling bee. As each contestant tackles increasingly difficult words, their insecurities, family dynamics, hopes, and fears are revealed through a series of songs and monologues. One by one, the young spellers are eliminated until a winner is crowned, leaving the audience with the heartfelt reminder that losing does not define a person's worth.

The venue could not have been more perfectly suited to this production. Staged in a small community hall with a relatively simple but very effective set, the space effectively recreated the atmosphere of a school hall and helped draw the audience into the world of the competition.

From the moment the contestants entered, their personalities were instantly recognisable. There was the insecure child, the overachiever, the brash competitor, and the quiet intellectual. The entire cast performed to a very high standard, but several stood out. Clinton Meneses was excellent as the highly competitive Chip Tolentino, complete with Boy Scout uniform and boundless enthusiasm. Meg Tisdall brought an appealing deadpan quality to Marcy Park, giving off strong Wednesday Addams energy, while Corrie Milne delivered a touching performance as Olive Ostrovsky, the sweet and lonely girl desperately hoping her father will arrive, having saved a seat especially for him.

For me, however, the undeniable star of the evening was Monét Faifai-Collins as William Barfée. His hilarious "magic foot" spelling technique, impeccable comic timing, and strong vocal performance made every moment he was on stage a delight. The audience hung on his every word and movement.

Tara Canton as Leaf Coneybear and Sarah Holswich as Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere completed this talented competitor line up. 

The adult characters were equally well portrayed. Caitlin McDougall brought warmth and confidence to Rona Lisa Peretti, a former spelling bee champion now hosting the event. Allegra Canton impressed as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, delivering her lines with authority and commitment to character throughout. Addi Peters did well as Mitch Mahoney, the comforting ex-convict who hands out juice boxes to eliminated contestants while also taking on several other roles during the show. His versatility and singing was noteworthy.

Mary Jarmulski's costume design was strong throughout, with each character clearly defined through their wardrobe while remaining entirely appropriate to the setting and story.

Given the intimate venue, amplification was unnecessary, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the cast's natural voices. Lighting was generally effective and appropriately understated, although there were a few moments where the spotlight work could have been slightly sharper when tracking performers around the stage.

Like many community theatre productions today, this show utilised backing tracks rather than live musicians. While it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure live orchestras, the availability of quality backing tracks has allowed companies to continue staging musical productions successfully. However, this approach does create challenges. When an audience reaction lasts longer than anticipated, performers are often forced to continue with the music rather than allowing the moment to breathe naturally, occasionally reducing the impact of a particularly funny or moving scene.

The standout musical moment of the evening was undoubtedly The I Love You Song. Beautifully performed by Corrie Milne, with great support from Caitlin McDougall and Addi Peters, the number was genuinely moving and emotionally resonant. Judging by the audience's reaction, it was clearly a highlight for many others as well.

Director Rob Ormsby has once again delivered a wonderful production. He has a remarkable ability to draw strong performances from his cast while incorporating the small character details and quirky moments that regular theatre-goers have come to recognise as unmistakably "Rob" touches.

No review of this show would be complete without mentioning the four audience members invited onstage to compete alongside the cast. Their involvement added an extra layer of unpredictability and generated some of the night's biggest laughs. One participant proved to be an unexpectedly talented speller, surviving deep into the first half before finally being eliminated by an impossibly difficult word. Watching the bee officials scramble to ensure the competition stayed on track was hilarious and perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the show.

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