Clague Theater’s ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ is (sic)

It is my sincerest wish that the person who invented Spell Check be honored in some small way. Either the Congressional Medal Of Honor, Knighthood, The Nobel Prize, a Pulitzer or some other manner of thanks that would be appropriate to my personal hero.

I remember quite well the panic attack known as the school spelling bee. At my parochial school that I attended it was mandatory for all students to participate in the school wide contest. The hope was to uncover some sort of spelling genius among the rabble. This certainly was not me. My spelling skills were atrocious (a word that I could not spell back then and still rely on SC to get it correct). Year after year we would be marched to the gym stage by class and drilled (and grilled) by teachers looking for a champion. Each year my lack of spelling skill would trip me up (once on the very first word).

In “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” now on stage at Clague Playhouse we relive the horror as six students are joined by three audience members to vie for the title of spelling champion. At stake is an all expense paid trip to Washington DC (hotel and meals included), a $200 savings bond and a huge trophy (as well as a lifetime of bragging rights and a line on their resume).

Former winner and Realtor Rona Lisa Peretti (Leah Saltzer) is in charge of organizing and running “The BEE” with assistance from vice principle Douglas Panch (Cody Swanson) and Mitch Mahoney (Brandon Alexander-Smith) who is doing community service as security and comforter as the group is thinned down.

Each student has their own degree of motivation to win. Leaf Coneybear (Samuel J. Bartlett) came in third at his school but the two top places dropped out. William Barfee (Alex Craig) pronounced Bar-Fay has developed a type of dance to spell out the word on the floor. A sickly and calorie challenged youth, he is none the less on the road to becoming a leading scientist of sort. Olive Ostrovsky (Brooke Hamilton) has her mother “finding herself” in India while her hard working father neglects his daughter in things that really matter (like attending the spelling bee).

Chip Tolentino (Reed Randall Kruger) is a very tall youth who shows up in full Boy Scout regalia. He is convinced that this is his year to go all the way as long as his hormones don’t get in the way. Logaine Schwartzandgrubeniere (Lorna Jane Patterson) is being raised by two gay men away from her birth mother. Her only desire is to please her dads with winning. Marcy Park (Camila Piñero) has been to the National (where she made it to 9th) and is determined to do better. As the Bee unfolds we learn of each contestant’s foibles and the technique they use to figure out the spellings.

As for this particular version it is on the scale one would expect from a community theater. While there are moments that elevate the production, these are fleeting at best. It feels as if the actors are holding back in some way on a show that demands larger than life portrayals. It simply lacks that extra spark. In so many words, it is almost great.

On the same note, the singing organized by music director Dr. Nicholas Klein with Evan Palermo on percussion, Jordyn Brozell on cello and Michael McCann on Reed are excellent. The same can be said with the choreography by Jen Justice. Ron Newell’s stage set once again captures the essence of a middle school gym past its expiration date. Jeff Lockshine does a fine job with the lighting and Bellan Brehn’s sound design is crisp. Sydney Dematteis does a marvelous job in costumes for the various personalities and the props unearthed by Dred Geib work perfectly.

For those familiar with Clague Playhouse this show will be a delight. Those who have been exposed to other venue productions of the same show may find it a tier just below. The show runs one hour and forty five minutes as one act which is a bit of a stretch for the older patrons. Be that as it may it is still an enjoyable evening of theater. Ding!

The Clague Playhouse production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be on stage at 1371 Clague Road in Westlake, Ohio through June 8, 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.clagueplayhouse.org or call (440) 331-0403.