{"id":150946,"date":"2023-10-23T13:24:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T03:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=150946"},"modified":"2023-10-23T13:24:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T03:24:27","slug":"the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-saltpillar-theatre-musical-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-saltpillar-theatre-musical-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Saltpillar Theatre) – musical theatre review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Talk about playing mind games with words.\u00a0Seventeen years after MTC staged this Tony Award winning musical comedy, Saltpillar Theatre has brought it back to tickle our funny bones again.\u00a0It is, indeed, hilarious, more than a touch silly and really fun, but not without pathos.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photos by Peter Haskin Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All the young contestants in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are flawed.\u00a0They are quite the collection of odd bods and brains.\u00a0They gather in a school gymnasium to try to spell some of the most difficult and obscure words in our language.\u00a0The show takes a heartwarming look at the pressures of growing up through the eyes of six quirky youngsters.\u00a0Another four are thrown into the mix, chosen from the audience before the show \u2026 and that adds its own charm.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The competition to be crowned wordsmith extraordinaire (in other words, Spelling Bee champion) and go on to compete at the Nationals is fierce.\u00a0Just one letter out of place or misspoken and participants are sent packing, as one-by-one they are.\u00a0These are kids who feel enormous pressure from their parents to succeed or, at the very least, perform well. Never mind the burden they place on themselves.\u00a0They have hang-ups and idiosyncrasies; they are awkward physically and socially.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Logainne Schwarzandgrubenniere (Olivia Harrison) has a lisp and two overbearing dads, one of whom in particular has a win at all costs attitude. She spells out words on her arm before pronouncing them aloud.\u00a0Facially disarming, William Barfee (Itai Franco) uses his foot to formulate the words before he enunciates them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Confident Marcy Park (Kiria Clemans), who speaks six languages and skipped two grades at school, is well used to being the smartest kid in the room.\u00a0Charlito \u201cChip\u201d Tolentino (Jesse Ermer) is upright in more ways than one when he takes a shine to an audience member.\u00a0Perennially shy Olive Ostrovsky (Eliana Morris) doesn\u2019t have the $25 entrance fee. Her dad is at work late, as usual, and her mum is \u201cfinding herself\u201d in an ashram in India.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Colourfully dressed Leaf Coneybear (Jasper Sherman) makes his own clothes and turns into a demonic spirit when he spits out his letters.\u00a0This is a musical in which to expect the unexpected. Even Jesus appears.\u00a0Palmer Rosenberg fills that role, as well as playing Carl, the more gung-ho of Schwarzandgrubenniere\u2019s fathers. The other is Dan (Jarod Rhine-Davis), who is also cast as Olive\u2019s dad.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The MC is a former competition victor, Rona Lisa Peretti (Gabi Bergman), now a successful real estate agent.\u00a0Posing the questions is injudicious vice principal Douglas Panch (Gregory Frid). He returns after a prolonged absence, being an unfortunate incident at the 20th<\/sup> Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The contestants are carefully monitored by \u201ccomfort counsellor\u201d Mitch Mahoney (Kailey Silver), who is undertaking community service. She sends off the \u201closers\u201d with a pat on the back or a hug and a juice box.\u00a0The 11-strong cast is accompanied by a lively five-piece band.\u00a0With an undoubtedly strong and impressive group dynamic, laughter abounds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Credit to director Russell Fletcher, choreographer Kailey Silver and musical director Matan Franco. Costuming is by Dani Harrison.\u00a0Vocally, Gabi Bergman and Kailey Silver excel.\u00a0The characters are a delightful and eclectic mix. I particularly warmed to the ungainliness displayed by Itai Franco and Eliana Morris, but frankly all performed with zest and polish.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee originally\u00a0opened off Broadway in 2005. It was an instant hit, prompting its move to Broadway, where it ran for nearly three years.\u00a0It was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics from William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material from Jay Reiss.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In 2023, it remains an inspired piece of amusing musical theatrical entertainment, to which Saltpillar Theatre has done justice.\u00a0With a running time of two hours including interval, it is playing at Phoenix Theatre in Elwood until 29th<\/sup>October.<\/p>\n

Alex First<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Talk about playing mind games with words.\u00a0Seventeen years after MTC staged this Tony Award winning musical comedy, Saltpillar Theatre has brought it back to tickle our funny bones again.\u00a0It is, indeed, hilarious, more than a touch silly and really fun, but not without pathos. All the young contestants in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":150947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[804,801],"tags":[21,124,2301,9445],"class_list":["post-150946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","category-theatre","tag-comedy","tag-musical","tag-saltpillar-theatre","tag-the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Saltpillar Theatre) - musical theatre review -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-saltpillar-theatre-musical-theatre-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Saltpillar Theatre) - musical theatre review -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Talk about playing mind games with words.\u00a0Seventeen years after MTC staged this Tony Award winning musical comedy, Saltpillar Theatre has brought it back to tickle our funny bones again.\u00a0It is, indeed, hilarious, more than a touch silly and really fun, but not without pathos. 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It is, indeed, hilarious, more than a touch silly and really fun, but not without pathos \u2026 for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"festival\"","block_context":{"text":"festival","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/tag\/festival\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Spelling-Bee-01","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Spelling-Bee-01.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Spelling-Bee-01.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Spelling-Bee-01.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":158671,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/elegies-a-song-cycle-fortyfivedownstairs-song-cycle-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":150946,"position":1},"title":"Elegies – A Song Cycle (fortyfivedownstairs) – theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"July 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Love, loss and laughter are potent and enduring in composer William Finn\u2019s (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) Elegies. Based around the importance of community, Elegies is a song cycle, namely a series of songs that hang together thematically, rather than through a narrative thread. Having said that, attendees\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rsz_1354.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rsz_1354.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rsz_1354.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rsz_1354.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":169359,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/amplified-the-exquisite-rock-and-rage-of-chrissy-amphlett-at-the-comedy-theatre-and-seymour-centre-narrative-concert-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":150946,"position":2},"title":"amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett, at the Comedy Theatre and Seymour Centre – narrative concert review","author":"Alex First","date":"March 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The force of nature that was the late, great Chrissy Amphlett is alive and well in the form of Sheridan Harbridge (who wrote, performs in and co-created this show). No, she isn\u2019t and could never be Amphlett (25th October, 1959 \u2013 21st April, 2013). But she pays her the ultimate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz_1_sheridan_harbridge_in_amplified_at_belvoir_photo_by_brett_boardman.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz_1_sheridan_harbridge_in_amplified_at_belvoir_photo_by_brett_boardman.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz_1_sheridan_harbridge_in_amplified_at_belvoir_photo_by_brett_boardman.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rsz_1_sheridan_harbridge_in_amplified_at_belvoir_photo_by_brett_boardman.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":156899,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/billy-elliot-the-musical-cloc-musical-theatre-musical-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":150946,"position":3},"title":"Billy Elliot The Musical (CLOC Musical Theatre) – musical theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"May 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Billy Elliot The Musical remains as moving and evocative as when I first saw it at Her Majesty\u2019s Theatre on 1stJanuary, 2009 \u2026 and what a magnificent show it is. For me, this is up there with the best musicals brought to the stage. It is based on the successful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/rsz_a-1225-enhanced-nr.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/rsz_a-1225-enhanced-nr.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/rsz_a-1225-enhanced-nr.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/rsz_a-1225-enhanced-nr.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":168666,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/saturday-night-fever-athenaeum-theatre-musical-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":150946,"position":4},"title":"Saturday Night Fever (Athenaeum Theatre) – musical theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"January 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The dark storyline in Saturday Night Fever is a sharp contrast to the detail and stunning clarity in the video design and lighting, which are mainstays of this production. Based on the 1977 film starring John Travolta and featuring the Bee Gee\u2019s soundtrack, the jukebox musical set in Brooklyn concerns\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rsz_7645.jpg?fit=800%2C532&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rsz_7645.jpg?fit=800%2C532&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rsz_7645.jpg?fit=800%2C532&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rsz_7645.jpg?fit=800%2C532&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":152883,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/chicago-the-musical-touring-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":150946,"position":5},"title":"Chicago the Musical (touring) – theatre review","author":"Belinda Yench","date":"January 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Rouge your knees and dig your seamed stockings out, Chicago is back in town for an Australian tour. This revival of the Broadway classic features iconic Fosse choreography, slick costumes and a pared-back set that gives equal stage-space to a live 15-piece jazz orchestra playing Kander & Ebb\u2019s memorable songs.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chicago-03.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chicago-03.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chicago-03.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chicago-03.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}