Like improv at its best, Kall weaves zippy satire of current events into his hilariously tautological answers. Strange as it may seem the most rib-tickling part of the show is the spelling bee itself, when the contestants ask Panch for the meaning of whatever abstruse term he has chosen and then ask him to use it in a sentence. To make this process more interesting, four audience members are chosen before the show to participate in the competition though they are soon undone by such zingers as "xerophthalmia" and "kinnikinnick". ![]() Rather like an adolescent version of A Chorus Line, we learn of the hopes and fears of the six competitors in time-stops-still moments before they spell key words. Perky Rona Lisa Peretti (Roberta Duchak), former bee winner and local star realtor, is our host and nerdy Vice-Principal Douglas Panch (James Kall) is the judge. On entering the Elgin Theatre we immediately find ourselves in the auditorium/gymnasium where the spelling bee in the American but otherwise geographically unplaceable Putnam County will be held. Like The Drowsy Chaperone before it, this it yet another peculiar musical where the least effective element is the music. ![]() To get rid of the usual critical ploy in discussing this show, this reviewer thought it was just too C-U-T-E for its own good. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, directed by James Lapineĭancap Productions, Elgin Theatre, Torontoĭancap Productions' second offering in its first season is the quirky 2005 musical with the long title, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |