New Line Theatre Closes Season With THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

I've never participated in an actual spelling bee, other than in a classroom setting. So, I can't imagine the amount of pressure that's heaped onto the tiny shoulders of the elementary students who take part in them. I only know that the winner is always paraded out for the media where we learn the word that they correctly spelled to win the competition. It's always something obscure that most of us couldn't define, much less use in a sentence. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee pokes fun at these events with a cunning mixture of bizarre characters and catchy tunes that's an over the top delight. New Line Theatre's current production is a perfectly cast show filled with moments of high hilarity.

Rachel Sheinkin's script recreates the titular bee in all its ragged glory, populating this unique world with some of the most screwed up little kids you can imagine. The play distills the event down to a two hour laugh-fest that's never dull in the least. William Finn's challenging score fills in the emotional blanks, and gives each character their own moment to shine.

Nicholas Kelly is a riot as the sinus impaired wonder boy with the "magic foot", William Barfee. He's the very definition of nerd, but he has a weirdly endearing charm. An ode to his marvelous appendage is nicely rendered in song and dance. As returning champ Chip Tolentino, Mike Dowdy brings a boyish charm to the role that works well. He's a boy scout who's just beginning to discover girls, and he's thwarted in the competition by a physical problem he sings about during "My Unfortunate Erection". Aaron Allen's portrayal of Leaf Coneybear, the peculiar boy who makes his own clothes, also sparkles with eccentricity. Allen makes Leaf a pitiable figure during "I'm Not That Smart", but it's not maudlin by any stretch.

Emily Berry is decidedly quirky as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, a precociously militant girl with gay parents, and a speech impediment. You really feel her pain during the touching number"Woe is Me". Katie Nestor delivers another fine performance as Olive Ostrovsky, a poor little dear whose father hasn't managed to either show up, or pay the entrance fee. She shines during "My Friend the Dictionary" and "The 'I Love You' Song". Alexis Kinney rounds out this group of youngsters as Marcy Park, a hopelessly advanced student who's brimming with achievements and skills. The song, "I Speak Six Languages", allows her the showcase to display her many talents.

Deborah Sharn does solid work as Rona Lisa Peretti, a former champ now turned judge. Her character is given musical asides that allow her to relate her favorite moments as they occur. As vice principal Douglas Panch, Brian Claussen is the beneficiary of some of the best lines in the show, and he delivers them with sharp comic timing. John Rhine amuses greatly as Mitch Mahoney, the comfort counselor who ushers the losers offstage when they miss a word.

Director Scott Miller has assembled a top-notch cast, and he does splendid work guiding this production. He's aided by the lively choreography of Robin Michelle Berger, and the character-defining costumes of Amy Kelly. Todd Schaefer's set is simple and effective, offering up a minimalistic suggestion of a gymnasium floor. Kenneth Zinkl's lighting adds drama to the individual moments.

Special mention should also be made of Chris Petersen's superb work on piano, and conducting the band which consists of: Ethan Edwards (cello), Joel Hackbarth (keyboards), Clancy Newell (percussion), and Robert Vinson (reeds).

I can't remember when I've laughed so hard, and so long at a show. New Line Theatre's presentation of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (playing through August 8, 2009) is priceless entertainment.