Flashback to fifth grade: The spastic, “benchwarmer jock” who will be favored to win at only one thing in life — the school spelling bee — is eliminated by a pitiless, knuckle-cracking nun for the arbitrary offense of chattering in line while waiting his turn to spell.
I’m not saying that kid was me, but I will say this: If that was a rule, Sister Martha Clare — it was never communicated!
Cold, cruel lesson: “Life is pandemonium.” Which happens to be the name of a song from the hilariously knowing musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” now cracking wise and cracking up Boulder’s Dinner Theatre audiences.
Each performance is an actual middle-school spelling bee, interspersed with back-story songs from an assortment of angst-ridden, overachieving preteen misfits wrestling with their parental-made inner demons.
Your perspicacious, prepubescent rivals (played by adults): 10-year-old Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, daughter of two ruthlessly competitive gay fathers. Olive Ostrovsky, whose mom’s in an ashram in India. Chip Tolentino, a cocksure Boy Scout distracted by a torrent of puberty. Droopy William Barfee, who spells with a magic foot despite a rare mucous-membrane disorder. Tough- as-nails transfer Marcy Park. Stoner-in-training Leaf Coneybear. Together they tell the tender tale of outcasts who find that the spelling bee is “the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.”
Why, they’re the Peanuts gang for the 21st century.
Four volunteer spellers are pulled from the audience and into the fun (not to mention the choreography). They’re subjected to all manner of good-natured harassment from former champ/color commentator Rona (Shelly Cox-Robie) and the hilariously droll vice principal (Wayne Kennedy), from whose mouth every letter is a gut-buster. When prompted, he delightedly uses each contested word in a sentence. For example, “xerophthalmiology,” a reddening of the eyes: “Stoner Billy’s mom always buys the xerophthalmiology excuse.”
The musical captures the real heartbreak of youth while mocking our “America hates losers” mindset that often damages our best and brightest by a young age. “Putnam” champions the freedom to not live up to expectations.
Anyone who may have already seen the “Bee” on Broadway or on tour may have some misgivings with BDT’s staging. Little lisping Logainne (pronounced Logan) doesn’t speak with the same adorably hyperkinetic manicness you might remember; Anna Hanson’s Marcy is a blond bombshell, not an Asian transfer; Matthew D. Peters’ Leaf, while charming in so many ways, bears little resemblance to the granola kid who can’t spell without going into a trance.
The heartbreakingly sad Olive (she dressed as roadkill for Halloween) turns the second act into more of a downer than was intended. Without an occasional sign of childhood winsomeness, Alicia Dunfee’s sweet mope comes across as, well, an adult acting among babes.
But no amount of misgivings could possibly override the fact that “Putnam County” delivers more genuine laughs than most any musical comedy I can think of.
Things that made me snort: Scott Beyette responding “I know!” each time his sad-sack Barfee is told he’s spelled a word correctly; the riotous Logainne (Mary McGroary) walking only in exact, 90-degree angles, elbows glued to her rib cage. Chip singing the hit song of the night, about his hormonal woes. A great guest appearance by Jesus himself.
Maybe you had to be there. But if you know what’s good for you, you will be.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” *** (out of four stars)
Musical verbosity. Presented by Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave. Directed by Alicia Dunfee. Through Nov. 7. 2 hours, 15 minutes. 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 7:45 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 1:45 and 7:45 p.m. Sundays (dinner service 90 minutes before). $35-$55. 303-449-6000, . Warning: Adult situations, language. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Spotlight on Mary McGroary
 |
“Audience members love getting caught up in the competition while rooting for their favorite character and sharing in the child’s heartbreak when all but one hears the inevitable ‘ding’ of the bell.” — McGroary, who plays Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre; she’s best known as Fraulein Kost in Town Hall Arts Center’s “Cabaret.”
The story: It’s a semi-real spelling bee, featuring six youngsters in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. To McGroary, Logainne is a gift from the theater gods. “She’s a 10-year old girl being raised by two gay dads who have imbued her with the notion that God hates losers, and their parental love is based upon her winning. If that weren’t enough, she’s taken on every cause out there, from gay rights to the environment to veganism.”
Did we mention she’s 10?
The intrigue: The inaugural production by a metro company of the surprise Broadway hit. Four audience members are rallied into each competition, guaranteeing no two shows are alike.
Info: Sept. 11-Nov. 7 at 5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or
