The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre opens its 38th season with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The show is a hilarious romp through the pressures placed on the young contestants (and organizers) of a local spelling bee. A departure from their normal fare, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a breath of fresh air. Comedic performances from a well-rounded cast compliment snappy songs and a very funny script. Directed by J.R. Stuart, Beef and Boards new season is off to a wonderful start with this tongue-in-cheek musical.

A show that elicits such raucous laughter I nearly fell out of my seat (for real), The Spelling Bee is a must see. It takes all types at the Putnam County Spelling Bee. From Leaf Coneybear, the kid who marches to a different drummer in homemade clothes, to the over-achieving Marcy Park and the snot-driveling William Barfee, the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee comes together to create a remarkable ensemble. In addition, nearly ever cast member doubles as a minor character, seamlessly shifting to a second amusing interpretation of the parents in the audience.

As Leaf Coneybear, Seth A. Tucker stole the show and stole my heart with his hilarious schtick. His quirky performance of the class weirdo had me giggling practically every time he spoke. Yet, it seems that each character has the ability to climb into the heart of various audience members, depending on the childhood type that most closely relates to your own experience. The beauty of the musical lies in its ability to poke fun at our-old-selves, the ones who awkwardly roamed the halls of middle school and maybe even asked a moderator to "define the word" at some point.

A liberal departure from Beef and Boards normal season scheduling, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a delightful surprise. I hope that the Beef continues to make choices like this in their upcoming seasons. With talented actors, the right script and a director that has a solid sense of comedic timing, the walls of their theatre ring with the echo of laughter.